Aerostar RAVEN 557A accident near Indianola, Iowa, August 4, 1991
On August 4, 1991 at about 1:20 pm local time, a Aerostar RAVEN 557A (balloon), registered N3621X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Indianola, Iowa. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT ARE COMPLACENCY AND DIVERTED ATTENTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 1991 · about 1:20 pm local time · cases in 1991
- Place
- Indianola, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerostar RAVEN 557A
- Registration
- N3621X · registry record · serial 557A-3083
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT BALLOON COLLIDED WITH POWERLINES WHILE COMPETING IN AN ANNUAL BALLOON COMPETITION. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT THE BALLOON BEGAN TO DESCEND IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE POWERLINES. THE BASKET STRUCK THE POWERLINES AS HE ATTEMPTED TO USE THE BURNER TO CLIMB OVER THEM.
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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 149 hours in all; 149 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Operator: Freedom Flight INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 800 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Observation at 12:52 pm from DSM, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N3621X the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N3621X on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Iowa 871 since 1982 · 131 in the last ten years
- Iowa 4,513 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N3621X 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CHI91LA244.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.