Raven S-55A accident near Anchorage, Alaska, June 22, 1984
On June 22, 1984 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Raven S-55A (balloon), registered N5562L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 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
- June 22, 1984 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raven S-55A · all S-55As on the register
- Registration
- N5562L · no longer on the register · serial 555
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE APCHG TO LAND ON A SCHOOL GROUND, THE BALLOON PLT LOWERED A DROP LINE FOR THE GROUND CREW, THEN LOOKED FORWARD & SAW A POWER LINE. HE TOLD THE GROUND CREW NOT TO TOUCH THE DROP LINE. THE DROP LINE CONTACTED & PULLED ONE POWER LINE INTO ANOTHER, CAUSING A SHORT. THE BALLOON ENVELOPE THEN DRAPED OVER AN OBSTRUCTION (OUTDOOR LIGHT), WHICH PIERCED THE ENVELOPE.
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 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 100 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 267 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 13, 1984; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,435 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 am
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.