Raven RALLY RX7 accident near Dona Ana, New Mexico, December 30, 1987
On December 30, 1987 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Raven RALLY RX7 (balloon), registered N40364, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dona Ana, New Mexico. 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
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
- December 30, 1987 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Dona Ana, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raven RALLY RX7
- Registration
- N40364 · no longer on the register · serial RX7-306
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERICAL PLT WAS CONDUCTING A SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT IN HIS BALLOON. AFTER A ONE AND ONE HALF HOUR FLIGHT, HE LANDED BESIDE A PAVED ROAD. THE ENVELOPE COLLAPSED OVER A POWER LINE. THE GROUND CREWMAN SOMEHOW CONTACTED THE BALLOON AND WAS ELECTRICALLY SHOCKED. HE WAS AIR LIFTED TO A HOSPITAL FOR OBSERVATION AND WAS FOUND TO HAVE MINOR INJURIES. THE BALLOON WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. NO OTHER INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED IN THE ACCIDENT.
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: 266 hours in all; 135 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 266 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 193 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 1,430 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Old Messilla NM at 3:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.