Raven RX-7 accident near Rio Rancho, New Mexico, January 9, 1988
On January 9, 1988 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Raven RX-7 (balloon), registered N2797L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rio Rancho, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- January 9, 1988 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Rio Rancho, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raven RX-7
- Registration
- N2797L · no longer on the register · serial RX7-434
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE LANDING THE PLT REPORTED A WIND SHIFT WHICH DRIFTED THE BALLOON INTO PWR LINES BEFORE THE LANDING COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED. THE PLT REPORTED SHE COULD NOT SEE THE PWR LINES DUE TO THE BALLOON RESTRICTING VISIBILITY AND THE PAX POINTED THE LINES OUT TO THE PLT.
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: 27 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 7 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 82 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 2, 1987; 82 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,480 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNK (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Rio Rancho NM at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from ABQ, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.