# NTSB LAX87LA070: Raven S55A/AX7, N5561P, Peoria, AZ, December 27, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 27, 1986, 09:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Peoria, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.569282, -112.249816 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5693&lon=-112.2498&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25492
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87LA070
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25492/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA070

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - high wind (cause)
- Hard landing, descent - normal
  - terrain condition - open field (contributing factor)

## Analysis

PRIOR TO LIFT-OFF THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE WIND CONDITIONS WERE CALM. DURING THE FLIGHT, THE SURFACE WINDS BEGAN TO INCREASE. THE PILOT PREPARED HIS PASSENGERS FOR A HIGH WIND LANDING AND BEGAN TO LIGHTLY VENT OFF HOT AIR. THE BALLOON BEGAN DESCENDING AT APPROXIMATELY 500 FPM. THE PILOT OPENED BOTH VENTS UNTIL IMPACT. ONE PASSENGER WAS THROWN OUT, BUT HUNG ONTO THE GONDOLO. WHEN THE PASSENGER LET GO, THE BALLOON BECAME AIRBORNE. THE BALLOON THEN TOUCHED-DOWN A SECOND TIME AND DRAGGED TO A STOP.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5561P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5561P-1994-03-02), registration cancelled 1994-03-02, S/N S55A544 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RAVEN S55A/AX7
- Registry model: [Raven S55A](https://openairdocs.org/model/raven-s55a) (registry code 7480402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: S55A-544
- Airframe hours: 180
- Engines: unknown UNK unknown
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Thomas W. Tope
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 14, 1986, 8 hours before
- Departed: GLENDALE, AZ
- Destination: PEORIA, AZ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; medical: unknown; flight hours: 145 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 23° at 25 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 34 °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 19861227072309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861227072309A), Dec 27, 1986: Raven S55A, Peoria, AZ, Minor damage. The balloon landed hard in high winds. The pilot reported a microburst, but no weather briefing was obtained.

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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