# NTSB MKC80DA033: Raven S55A, N1089R, Council Bluffs, IA, May 3, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: May 3, 1980
- Place: Council Bluffs, IA · COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA
- Location: 41.2619° N, 95.8608° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Council Bluffs, IA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2619&lon=-95.8608&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 27, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 130819
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC80DA033
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC80DA033

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1182   80/5/3    COUNCIL BLUFFS,IA   RAVEN S55A          CR-  0  1  0  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, AGE 41, 205
        TIME - 1615                    N1089R              PX-  0  1  0  AIR SHOW/RACING           TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          COUNCIL BLUFFS,IA          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               TAKEOFF: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    8000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      81
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          140                                                       6
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- BALLOON.UPDRAFT BROKE LINES.HIT PWR POLE,BLDGS.DUST DEVILS IN AREA.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1089R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1089R-2014-12-22), registration cancelled 2014-12-22, S/N S55A-280, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RAVEN S55A
- Registry model: [Raven S55A](https://openairdocs.org/model/raven-s55a) (registry code 7480402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (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 19800503011779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800503011779A), May 3, 1980: Raven S55A, Council Bluffs, IA, Substantial damage. Sudden gust lifted tethered balloon. Cables broke. Balloon drifted. Struck buildings. Defeated by ground crew.

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.