# NTSB LAX93LA084: Raven S-55A, N2815S, Peoria, AZ, December 26, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 26, 1992, 09:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Peoria, AZ
- Location: 33.5806° N, 112.2374° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Peoria, AZ, within about 8 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5806&lon=-112.2374&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27899
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA084
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27899/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA084

## Probable cause

THE BALLOON'S ENCOUNTER WITH A GUSTY WIND SHEAR CONDITION DURING THE FINAL DESCENT FOR LANDING AT AN ALTITUDE INSUFFICIENT FOR THE PILOT TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION TO PREVENT A HARD LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - gusts (cause)
  - weather condition - windshear (cause)
  - remedial action - not possible, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE PILOT SAID THAT AFTER TAKEOFF THE BALLOON DRIFTED IN A NORTHWEST DIRECTION UNTIL IT REACHED A LARGE FIELD THE PILOT HAD SELECTED FOR LANDING. AT ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL THE PILOT SAID THE BALLOON ENCOUNTERED A LARGE GUST OF WIND AND A WINDSHEAR WHICH PUSHED IT INTO THE GROUND AND CAUSED A HARD LANDING. THE PILOT NOTED THAT HE HAD OBSERVED TWO OTHER BALLOONS MAKE SOFT LANDINGS IN THE SAME FIELD ABOUT 10 MINUTES PRIOR TO HIS LANDING ATTEMPT. A PASSENGER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED FOOT AND VERTEBRAE DURING THE HARD LANDING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2815S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2815S-2013-06-13), registration cancelled 2013-06-13, S/N S55A-1108 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Raven S-55A
- Registry model: [Raven Industries S-55A](https://openairdocs.org/model/raven-industries-s-55a) (registry code 7480609) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: S55A-1108
- Airframe hours: 230
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Larry E. Davidson
- Registered owner: Robert Hu& Diane Hutson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 20, 1992, 19 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; private; flight hours: 92 total, 7 in this make and model, 92 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 30 °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 19921226053399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921226053399A), Dec 26, 1992: Raven S55A, Peoria, AZ. Encountered severe wind gust during landing. Caused hard landing. A passenger broke a foot and vertebrae.

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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