Raven RX-7 and Raven RX-7 mid-air collision near Anchorage, Alaska, February 28, 1983
On February 28, 1983 at about 3:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Raven RX-7 (N4195L) and Raven RX-7 (N5563L), were involved in a mid-air collision near Anchorage, Alaska (Merrill Field). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 28, 1983 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Merrill Field · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Raven RX-7
- Registration
- N4195L · no longer on the register · serial SSSA 926
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Raven RX-7
- Registration
- N5563L · registry record · serial 555A-554
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Raven RX-7 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TWO BALLOONS COLLIDED IN MID AIR. ONE (N4195L) SUFFERED A RIP IN THE ENVELOPE WHICH NEGATED ITS LIFT, WITH BURNER FULL ON. IT DESCENDED AT 500 RPM AND MADE A HARD LANDING. THE HOLE IN THE ENVELOPE EXTENDED ACROSS 5 GORE PANELS. THE 2 BALLOONS DEPARTED THE SAME AREA WITH N4195L IN THE LEAD. IT CLIMBED SLOWER AND THE OTHER BALLOON (N5563L) OVERCLIMBED ITAND SLID ACROSS THE TOP OF IT. A BOLT PROTRUDING FROM THE METAL BASKET OF N5563L RIPPED THE ENVELOPE OF N4195L. N5563L WAS NOT DAMAGED.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Raven RX-7 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TWO BALLOONS COLLIDED IN MID AIR. ONE (N4195L) SUFFERED A RIP IN THE ENVELOPE WHICH NEGATED ITS LIFT, WITH BURNER FULL ON. IT DESCENDED AT 500 RPM AND MADE A HARD LANDING. THE HOLE IN THE ENVELOPE EXTENDED ACROSS 5 GORE PANELS. THE 2 BALLOONS DEPARTED THE SAME AREA WITH N4195L IN THE LEAD. IT CLIMBED SLOWER AND THE OTHER BALLOON (N5563L) OVERCLIMBED ITAND SLID ACROSS THE TOP OF IT. A BOLT PROTRUDING FROM THE METAL BASKET OF N5563L RIPPED THE ENVELOPE OF N4195L. N5563L WAS NOT DAMAGED.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Raven RX-7 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 305 hours in all; 305 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 11 as pilot in command; 11 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 140 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 28, 1983; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,435 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None NONE (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
The factual record for the Raven RX-7 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: balloon
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,435 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None NONE (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.