# NTSB DEN80FA002: Raven S55AX7, N403AA, Albuquerque, NM, October 10, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 10, 1979
- Place: Albuquerque, NM · ALBUQUERQUE, NM
- Location: 35.0845° N, 106.6511° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Albuquerque, NM, within about 8 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0845&lon=-106.6511&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 27, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 201190
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN80FA002
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80FA002-201190

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4023  79/10/10   ALBUQUERQUE,NM      RAVEN S55AX7        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 30, 41 TOTAL
        TIME - 1729                    N403AA              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 25 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ALBUQUERQUE,NM              LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           TURBULENCE                                               IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           SYSTEMS - FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS: OTHER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE IN FLIGHT,CLEAR AIR
        WEATHER BRIEFING - SELF-HELP,PILOT CHECKED WEATHER DATA
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     340
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           21                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- BALLOON NOT AIRWORTHY.FABRIC STRENGTH LESS THAN MINIMUM ALLOWABLE VALUE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N403AA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N403AA-1982-10-06), registration cancelled 1982-10-06, S/N S55A184, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RAVEN S55AX7
- Registry model: [Raven S55A](https://openairdocs.org/model/raven-s55a) (registry code 7480402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Engines: none
- Damage: Destroyed

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19791010041129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791010041129A), Oct 10, 1979: Raven S55A, Albuquerque, NM, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Launched into area of turbulence. Envelope distorted, fabric failed. Caught fire, streamered to ground impact.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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