Aerostar RAVEN S49A accident near Ark, Virginia, October 12, 1995
On October 12, 1995 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Aerostar RAVEN S49A (balloon), registered N6348X, was destroyed in an accident near Ark, Virginia. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the flight instructor's improper procedures while inflating the balloon using an external fuel source, and the fuel leak.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 12, 1995 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ark, Virginia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar RAVEN S49A
- Registration
- N6348X · registry record · serial S49A-3060
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that in an attempt to conserve fuel in the on-board fuel tank, he inflated the balloon for flight using an external fuel tank. He stated that when he attempted to disconnect the external fuel tank hose, the residual fuel ignited. The flight instructor and dual student exited the balloon, and the balloon lifted off the ground. The balloon remained airborne, unmanned, for about one mile before it touched down. Postaccident examination of the balloon revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. The flight instructor stated that the accident could have been prevented if the pilot light was turned off before switching fuel hose connections from external fuel tank to on-board fuel tank.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 718 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 692 as pilot in command; 14 on instruments
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: VA at 9:15 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from RIC, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.