Raven AX-9 accident near Blaine, Minnesota, September 2, 1985
On September 2, 1985 at about 1:10 pm local time, a Raven AX-9 (balloon), registered N4196N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Blaine, Minnesota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured; 5 others were unhurt. 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
- September 2, 1985 · about 1:10 pm local time
- Place
- Blaine, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured; 5 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raven AX-9
- Registration
- N4196N · no longer on the register · serial 566A-137
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ONE HOUR BALLOON SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT WAS UNEVENTFUL. DURING HIS APPROACH TO LAND IN A CLEAR AREA HE DECIDED THAT HIS FORWARD VELOCITY WAS TOO HIGH TO LAND WITHOUT HITTING HOUSES OR POWERLINES BELOW THE BALLOON. ACCORDING TO HIM HE BURNED FUEL TO ATTEMPT A LEVEL OFF BUT DIDN'T BURN ENOUGH FUEL TO ARREST HIS DESCENT COMPLETELY. THE BALLOON STRUCK A MAPLE TREE AND THE GONDOLA MOMENTARILY BECAME CAUGHT ON A BRANCH. THE BRANCH GAVE WAY AND THE GONDOLA FELL TO THE GROUND HARD ENOUGH TO SERIOUSLY INJURE TWO OF THE SEVEN BALLOON OCCUPANTS.
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: 116 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 83 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 49 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1984; 19 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None NONE (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lakeland MN at 12:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 4 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N4196N the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.