Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Peoria, Arizona 85345
Saturday, December 27, 1986 9:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/27/1986
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 930
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City PEORIA
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85345
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 6
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 23
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 25
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 25
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1726
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 28 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1605
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 32157
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5561P
NTSB Number LAX87LA070
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Minor
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name RAVEN
Aircraft Model S55A/AX7
Aircraft Series Identifier S55A/AX7
Aircraft Serial Number S55A-544
Certified Max Gross Weight 1430
Aircraft Category Balloon
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 14 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 8
Airframe Hours 180
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name THOMAS W. TOPE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 6020 E. DESERT COVE AVE.
Aircraft Owner City SCOTTSDALE
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85254
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City GLENDALE
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 830
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City PEORIA
Destination State AZ
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --