Raven AERO STAR S-66A accident near Fort Collins, Colorado, August 9, 1986
On August 9, 1986 at about 1:45 pm local time, a Raven AERO STAR S-66A (balloon), registered N2805F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Collins, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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 9, 1986 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Collins, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raven AERO STAR S-66A AERO STAR
- Registration
- N2805F · no longer on the register · serial S66A-3007
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD HE BEGAN VENTING THE BALLOON IN PREPARATION FOR A LANDING IN A FIELD. THE BALLOON ENCOUNTERED A WIND SHIFT & STARTED DRIFTING TOWARD POWERLINES. THE PLT SAID THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO ADD HEAT TO AVOID THE POWERLINES, SO HE HELD THE VENT OPEN AS WIDE AS POSSIBLE. HOWEVER, THE ENVELOPE CONTACTED THE WIRES, WHICH ARCED & DAMAGED THREE PANELS.
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: 83 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 750 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Fort Collins CO at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 7:30 am
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.