# NTSB DEN88LA081: Raven S55A, N81DS, Los Lunas, NM, February 28, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 28, 1988, 08:40 local (15:40 UTC)
- Place: Los Lunas, NM
- Location: 34.8013° N, 106.7925° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Los Lunas, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8013&lon=-106.7925&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17458
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88LA081
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17458/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88LA081

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - wind information - misread, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N81DS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N81DS-2002-05-15), registration cancelled 2002-05-15, S/N S55A-748, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RAVEN S55A
- Registry model: [Raven S55A](https://openairdocs.org/model/raven-s55a) (registry code 7480402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: S55A-74B
- Airframe hours: 353
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: David V. Sibila
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 22, 1988

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; commercial; flight hours: 273 total, 151 in this make and model, 224 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ABQ, 20 nm away

## 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 19880228005479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880228005479A), Feb 28, 1988: Raven S55A, Los Lunas, NM, Substantial damage. Pilot suffered broken kneecap trying to land in a high wind. Gondola hit twice, rose up and made high wind landing.

## Other investigations on N81DS (1)

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.

- [NTSB DEN85LA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85LA078), Jan 13, 1985: Raven S55A (N81DS), Littleton, CO, substantial damage

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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