Raven S-55A accident near Bernalillo, New Mexico, October 6, 1990
On October 6, 1990 at about 4:32 pm local time, a Raven S-55A (balloon), registered N4062H, was destroyed in an accident near Bernalillo, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT, RESULTING IN AN INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH POWER LINES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 6, 1990 · about 4:32 pm local time
- Place
- Bernalillo, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raven S-55A · all S-55As on the register
- Registration
- N4062H · registry record · serial S55A-864
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT AND A PASSENGER WERE DRIFTING WITH THE WIND DURING A BALLOON FIESTA. WITNESSES SAID THE BALLOON STRUCK POWER LINES ABOUT 100 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, AND BURST INTO FLAMES. THE CHASE CREW SAID ONE OF THE MEN TRIED TO SLIDE DOWN A ROPE BUT LOST HIS GRIP AND FELL TO THE TERRAIN. THE WITNESSES SAID THE OTHER MAN GRABBED THE POWER LINE AND HELD ON FOR A SHORT TIME, THEN FELL TO THE TERRAIN.
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: 200 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 175 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Albuquerque NM at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:50 pm from ABQ, 20 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.
Other NTSB records under N4062H the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.