# NTSB LAX81DUJ18: Raven S-55A, N5702T, Sun City West, AZ, November 15, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: November 15, 1980
- Place: Sun City West, AZ · SUN CITY WEST, AZ
- Location: 33.6714° N, 112.3572° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sun City West, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6714&lon=-112.3572&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 2, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 128000
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81DUJ18
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81DUJ18

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3469  80/11/15   SUN CITY WEST,AZ    RAVEN S-55A         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 47, 803
        TIME - 1100                    N5702T              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 457 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GLENDALE,AZ                 SUN CITY WEST,AZ
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - SUDDEN WINDSHIFT
           WEATHER - OTHER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - SELF-HELP,PILOT CHECKED WEATHER DATA
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      70
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          360                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- PLT DECIDED TO LND AFTER ENCTRG THERMAL ACTIVITY.WND SHIFTED TWD PWR LN DRG APCH PARALLEL TO WIRES
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5702T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5702T-1991-08-09), registration cancelled 1991-08-09, S/N S55A607 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RAVEN S-55A
- Registry model: [Raven S55A](https://openairdocs.org/model/raven-s55a) (registry code 7480402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Engines: none
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19801115078059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801115078059A), Nov 15, 1980: Raven S55A, Sun City, AZ, Substantial damage. Wind shift during landing approach. Balloon hit nearby wires.

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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