Raven S-66A accident near San Antonio, Texas, April 20, 1996
On April 20, 1996 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Raven S-66A (balloon), registered N2814D, was involved in an accident near San Antonio, Texas. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 6 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate briefing of his passengers. A factor was the high wind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 20, 1996 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- San Antonio, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 6 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raven S-66A
- Registration
- N2814D · registry record · serial S66A-161
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two of the passengers stated that they received 'no briefing before the balloon ride started.' The pilot reported that the 'wind was calm for a normal takeoff.' The pilot further stated that during the flight, the 'wind picked up [from] the NE 10 to 12 mph at 200 feet AGL.' When the pilot descended the balloon for a landing, the balloon 'landed near the edge of a grassy field.' One of the passengers reported that 'the balloon impacted the ground and bounced 30 to 40 feet before impacting the ground again.' The pilot reported that the basket was 'dragged about 150 feet and came to a stop on its side.' According to the injured passenger, 'approximately 20 seconds before the basket hit the ground, the pilot told the passengers to crouch below the basket top and bend their knees.' She reported that she didn't know that 'there was anything wrong; and didn't have any expectation of what to do for the landing until he said that.'
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: 277 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 333 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 17, 1996; 3 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 at 1:24 pm
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 pm from SAT, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 5 |
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 N2814D 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.