# NTSB FTW83LA011: Raven AX-7, N40222, Albuquerque, NM, October 7, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 7, 1982, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: 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: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 7, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69731
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83LA011
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69731/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83LA011

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - object - fence (contributing factor)
  - object - residence (contributing factor)
  - aborted landing - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE BALLOONIST ATTEMPTED TO ABORT A LANDING DUE TO WIND CONDITIONS AND BELIEVES HE ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT. THE BALLOON DESCENDED AND LANDED ON A FENCE AND BECAME AIRBORNE AGAIN. THE WIND HAD PICKED UP TO ABOUT 15 OR 20 KNOTS SO THE BALLOONWAS TRAVELING DOWNWIND AS IT COLLIDED WITH THE ROOF OF A HOUSE TAKING OFF SOME SHINGLES. A BALLOON CABLE CAUGHT ON THE ROOF OF THE HOUSE WHICH STOPPED THE BALLOON. THE CHASE CREW SEQUENCE WAS UNEVENTFUL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N40222](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40222-2018-01-18), registration cancelled 2018-01-18, S/N S55A-836 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RAVEN AX-7
- Registry model: [Raven S55A](https://openairdocs.org/model/raven-s55a) (registry code 7480402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: S55-836
- Airframe hours: 15
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Mark Mcgill
- Registered owner: Mark Mcgill
- Departed: ALBUQUERQUE, NM
- Destination: ALBUQUERQUE, NM

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 2,582 total, 232 in this make and model, 1,986 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Temperature: 140 °F

## 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 19821007051989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821007051989A), Oct 7, 1982: Raven S55A, Albuquerque, NM. Gondola bounced off a fence and caught on a roof while landing in gusty surface winds during a balloon fiesta.

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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