# NTSB LAX84LA063: Rider AA-4, N27676, Salome, AZ, November 14, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 14, 1983, 14:20 local (21:20 UTC)
- Place: Salome, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.719062, -113.650894 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7191&lon=-113.6509&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24088
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84LA063
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24088/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA063

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command
  - altitude - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT OF THE BALLOON WAS MAKING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING DUE TO HIS PROXIMITY TO THE MEXICAN BORDER. TO AVOID HIGH TENSION WIRES, THE PLT 'RIPPED OUT' AT A HIGHER THAN NORMAL ALTITUDE RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING. THE PLT RECEIVED A FRACTURED SKULL WHEN HE STRUCK HIS HEAD AGAINST AN OXYGEN BOTTLE DURING THE LANDING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N27676](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N27676-2006-06-12), registration cancelled 2006-06-12, S/N 001, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RIDER AA-4
- Registry model: [Rider Frank E AA4](https://openairdocs.org/model/rider-frank-e-aa4) (registry code 05637P8) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon, amateur-built
- Serial number: 001
- Airframe hours: 7
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: David Levin
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: LAS VEGAS, NV

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown; flight hours: 1,309 total, 7 in this make and model, 1,389 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 315° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19831114057989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831114057989A), Nov 14, 1983: Amtr AA4RIDER, Salome, AZ. Pilot received a fractured skull during a high wind landing. Deflated balloon prior to touchdown to avoid powerline

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.