Raven RX7 accident near Gonzales, Louisiana, July 28, 1991
On July 28, 1991 at about 1:35 pm local time, a Raven RX7 (balloon), registered N2801F, suffered minor damage in an accident near Gonzales, Louisiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
UNFAVORABLE WINDS AT LOW ALTITUDE. A FACTOR WAS THE ELECTRICAL POWER LINES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 1991 · about 1:35 pm local time
- Place
- Gonzales, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raven RX7
- Registration
- N2801F · no longer on the register · serial RX7-442
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A DAY LOCAL AREA FLIGHT THE BALLOON PILOT ELECTED TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD. AS SHE PASSED OVER A TREE LINE, ON SHORT FINAL, THE PILOT SPOTTED A SERIES OF UNMARKED ELECTRICAL POWER LINES. THE PILOT THOUGHT THAT THE POWER LINES WERE NOT A FACTOR. HOWEVER, A SUDDEN WIND SHIFT CHANGED THE DIRECTION OF THE BALLOON INTO THE POWER LINES. THE BALLOON BECAME ENTANGLED WITH THE POWER LINES AND THE PILOT ORDERED THE PASSENGER TO JUMP FROM AN ALTITUDE OF 8 - 10 ABOVE THE GROUND DUE TO ELECTRICAL ARCING. AFTER THE PASSENGER WAS CLEAR THE PILOT JUMPED AND SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES.
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: 112 hours in all; 112 in this make and model; 102 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Baton Rouge LA at 12:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.