Raven RX-7 accident near Phillip, South Dakota, August 22, 1982
On August 22, 1982 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Raven RX-7 (balloon), registered N4010S, suffered minor damage in an accident near Phillip, South Dakota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 2 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
- August 22, 1982 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Phillip, South Dakota
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raven RX-7
- Registration
- N4010S · registry record · serial RX-7 269
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER THE FOURTH LANDING, THE BALLOON HAD BEEN ON THE GROUND ABOUT 8 MINUTES WHEN A WHIRL WIND SUDDENLY HIT THE ENVELOPE. THE BALLOON LIFTED UP ABOUT 2 TO 3 FT AND WAS BLOWN INTO THE SIDE OF A CHASE VEHICLE. ONE OF THE PASSENGERS WAS THROWN OUT OF THE GONDOLA, BUT LANDED SAFELY. THE OTHER PASSENGER'S SHOULDER WAS FRACTURED WHEN SHE HIT A PROPANE TANK DURING THE IMPACT. THE INJURED PASSENGER AND THE PILOT REMAINED IN THE GONDOLA AS IT ASCENDED ABOUT 40 TO 50 FT. THE PILOT HEATED THE AIR IN THE BALLOON SO THAT IT WOULD REMAIN AT ALTITUDE UNTIL IT WAS FREED FROM THE WHIRL WIND. ABOUT 3 TO 4 MINUTES LATER, THE WHIRL WIND DISSIPATED AND THE PILOT LANDED.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 121 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 63 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 22 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Phillip SD at 7:45 am
- Destination: Phillip SD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 165°F (74°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
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.