Raven S-66A accident near Baldwin, Wisconsin, November 2, 1986
On November 2, 1986 at about 4:25 pm local time, a Raven S-66A (balloon), registered N4196N, was involved in an accident near Baldwin, Wisconsin (Baldwin airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 6 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
- November 2, 1986 · about 4:25 pm local time
- Place
- Baldwin, Wisconsin · Baldwin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 6 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raven S-66A
- Registration
- N4196N · no longer on the register · serial 555A-137
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE LANDING, THE PASSENGERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO STAY TO THE SIDE OF THE BASKET AND HOLD ON. HOWEVER, ONE PASSENGER MOVED TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE BASKET AND HIT A VIDEO CAMERA WITH HER LEG. DURING THE OCCURRENCE, HER LEG WAS FRACTURED BETWEEN THE KNEE AND ANKLE.
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: 249 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 206 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 145 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1986; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None NONE (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lakeland MN at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 23,000 ft; not recorded at 23,000 ft
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 pm from MSP, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 5 |
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.