# NTSB DEN89LA004: Raven Rally II, N4098G, Rio Rancho, NM, October 4, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 4, 1988, 10:05 local (16:05 UTC)
- Place: Rio Rancho, NM
- Coordinates: 35.269546, -106.659278 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2695&lon=-106.6593&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 3, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17622
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89LA004
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17622/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA004

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, descent - normal
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, landing - aborted
  - object - fence (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - object - residence (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE COMMERCIAL BALLOON PLT AND ONE PAX WERE PARTICIPATING IN A BALLOON FIESTA. THE ACFT TOOK OFF FROM ALBUQUERQUE, ON A LOCAL FLIGHT IN CALM WINDS. AT ALTITUDE, THE BALLOON ENCOUNTERED SOUTH WINDS THAT CARRIED THE BALLOON TO RIO RANCHO, WHERE A LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED. AT TOUCHDOWN, THE BALLOON BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR AND PASSED OVER THE GROUND CREW. THE BALLOON GONDOLA HIT AND KNOCKED DOWN A CINDER BLOCK FENCE. THE GONDOLA THEN HIT A PICTURE WINDOW AND THE WALL OF AN UNOCCUPIED NEW HOME, AND CAME TO REST INSIDE THE HOME.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4098G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4098G-2014-12-17), registration cancelled 2014-12-17, S/N RX7-326, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RAVEN RALLY II
- Registry model: [Raven Industries RALLY RX7](https://openairdocs.org/model/raven-industries-rally-rx7) (registry code 7480503) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: RV 326
- Airframe hours: 100
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Demaree, Linda
- Registered owner: Demaree, Linda
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 10, 1988, 10 hours before
- Departed: NONE, ALBUQUERQUE, NM
- Destination: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; commercial; flight hours: 353 total, 180 in this make and model, 325 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19881004044279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881004044279A), Oct 4, 1988: Raven RX7, Rio Rancho, NM, Substantial damage. Wind picked up. Bounced on landing. Wind carried balloon through a fence. Gondola crashed through window of a house

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.