Raven S-60A and Raven S55A mid-air collision near Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 8, 1992
On October 8, 1992 at about 1:32 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Raven S-60A (N8EN) and Raven S55A (N57115), were involved in a mid-air collision near Albuquerque, New Mexico. 2 people were seriously injured and 4 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN VISUAL LOOKOUT.
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN VISUAL LOOKOUT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 1992 · about 1:32 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 4 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Raven S-60A · all S-60As on the register
- Registration
- N8EN · no longer on the register · serial 305
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Raven S55A · all S55As on the register
- Registration
- N57115 · no longer on the register · serial 663
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Raven S-60A final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF BALLOON 'A' INITIATED AN ASCENT FROM APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET AGL AT AN ESTIMATED RATE OF 300 FEET PER MINUTE. THE PILOT STATED ANOTHER BALLOON IMPACTED HIS ENVELOPE WITH ITS BASKET AT AN ESTIMATED 350 FEET AGL. THE UPPER PORTION OF THE BALLOONS FABRIC WAS TORN AND RUPTURED. BALLOON 'A' PILOT INITIATED AN EMERGENCY DESCENT AND LANDED HARD. THE PILOT OF BALLOON 'B' STATED HER ALTITUDE TO BE APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET AGL WHEN THE MIDAIR OCCURRED. SHE STATED WHEN SHE SAW BALLOON 'A' SHE STARTED BURNING CONTINUOUSLY AND OBSERVED AN ASCENT RATE OF 500 FEET PER MINUTE ON HER VSI. AFTER IMPACT SHE UNTANGLED THE BASKET FROM THE OTHER BALLOON'S ENVELOPE AND MADE A NORMAL LANDING. THE FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS AS DESCRIBED BY GROUND OBSERVERS TO BE MORE NEAR THE STATEMENT MADE BY THE PILOT OF BALLOON 'A'. HE ALSO STATED ANY BALLOON POSITIONED HIGHER THAN OTHERS IS RESPONSIBLE TO 'SEE AND AVOID'.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Raven S55A final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF BALLOON 'A' INITIATED AN ASCENT FROM APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET AGL AT AN ESTIMATED RATE OF 300 FEET PER MINUTE. THE PILOT STATED ANOTHER BALLOON IMPACTED HIS ENVELOPE WITH ITS BASKET AT AN ESTIMATED 350 FEET AGL. THE UPPER PORTION OF THE BALLOON'S FABRIC WAS TORN AND RUPTURED. BALLOON 'A' PILOT INITIATED AN EMERGENCY DESCENT AND LANDED HARD. THE PILOT OF BALLOON 'B' STATED HER ALTITUDE TO BE APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET AGL WHEN THE MIDAIR OCCURRED. SHE STATED WHEN SHE SAW BALLOON 'A' SHE STARTED BURNING CONTINUOUSLY AND OBSERVED AN ASCENT RATE OF 500 FEET PER MINUTE ON HER VSI. AFTER IMPACT SHE UNTANGLED THE BASKET FROM THE OTHER BALLOON'S ENVELOPE AND MADE A NORMAL LANDING. THE FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS AS DESCRIBED BY GROUND OBSERVERS TO BE MORE NEAR THE STATEMENT MADE BY THE PILOT OF BALLOON 'A'. HE ALSO STATED ANY BALLOON POSITIONED HIGHER THAN OTHERS IS RESPONSIBLE TO 'SEE AND AVOID'.
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 for the Raven S-60A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 3,828 hours in all; 154 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 529 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1992; 40 hours since
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 1:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 3 |
The factual record for the Raven S55A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 264 hours in all; 255 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 250 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 415 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 10, 1991; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,435 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 1:28 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.