Raven S100A accident near Las Vegas, New Mexico, November 6, 1994
On November 6, 1994 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Raven S100A (balloon), registered N54693, was substantially damaged in an accident near Las Vegas, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE HIGH WIND CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 6, 1994 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Las Vegas, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raven S100A
- Registration
- N54693 · no longer on the register · serial EXP-400
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER A 6 HOUR FLIGHT, WITH 1 HOUR OF FUEL REMAINING, THE BALLOON PILOT ELECTED TO LAND. HE LANDED WHERE THE TERRAIN WAS STILL RELATIVELY OPEN, AFTER FLIGHT OVER OTHER AREAS THAT WERE SUITABLE FOR LANDING. THE ON-BOARD GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) INDICATED THE GROUND SPEED WAS 32 MPH. THE PILOT SAID HE ENCOUNTERED 'SIGNIFICANT WIND SHEAR' DURING THE LANDING APPROACH, AND HE VENTED THE ENVELOPE 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE BALLOON TOUCHED DOWN AND WAS DRAGGED ACROSS THE GROUND. THERMAL ACTIVITY CAUSED THE BALLOON TO ASCEND, BUT BECAUSE MOST OF THE HOT AIR HAD BEEN VENTED, IT DESCENDED BACK TO THE GROUND AND LANDED HARD. THE PILOT SAID THE WIND HAD BEEN FORECAST TO REMAIN RELATIVELY CALM THROUGHOUT THE DAY; HOWEVER, AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, HE ESTIMATED IT TO BE AT 28 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 33 KNOTS. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS ABOUT 107 MILES NORTHEAST OF THE LAUNCH SITE.
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: 2,006 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,985 as pilot in command; 100 on instruments
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 75 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 14, 1993; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Albuquerque NM at 2:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 28 knots, gusting 33
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 2 | 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.