Raven RX7 accident near Durango, Colorado, January 31, 1993
On January 31, 1993 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Raven RX7 (balloon), registered N3581T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Durango, Colorado. 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
PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE BALLOON'S BURNER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR WAS: UNFAVORABLE WIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 31, 1993 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Durango, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raven RX7
- Registration
- N3581T · no longer on the register · serial RX7-3220
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HOT AIR BALLOON WAS ABOUT 200 FEET AGL AND SEVERAL HUNDRED YARDS SOUTH OF THE RIM OF A BLUFF. A ROTOR WIND SUDDENLY PUSHED THE BALLOON TOWARDS POWERLINES. THE PILOT CONSIDERED 'RIPPING OUT' THE ENVELOPE BUT OPTED TO ACTIVATE THE BURNER IN AN ATTEMPT TO CLIMB. HE WAS SUCCESSFUL IN HALTING THE BALLOON'S DESCENT, BUT THE BURNER 'FLAMED OUT.' THE BALLOON CONTACTED THE WIRES. THE WIRES ARCED THEN BROKE. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO RELIGHT THE BURNER AND MAKE AN UNEVENTFUL LANDING. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WAS REPORTED TO THE BALLOON UPRIGHTS AND BASKET.
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: 681 hours in all; 218 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 671 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 4, 1993; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,430 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.