Raven S55A/AX7 accident near Peoria, Arizona, December 27, 1986
On December 27, 1986 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Raven S55A/AX7 (balloon), registered N5561P, suffered minor damage in an accident near Peoria, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 27, 1986 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Peoria, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raven S55A/AX7 · all S55A/AX7s on the register
- Registration
- N5561P · no longer on the register · serial S55A-544
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PRIOR TO LIFT-OFF THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE WIND CONDITIONS WERE CALM. DURING THE FLIGHT, THE SURFACE WINDS BEGAN TO INCREASE. THE PILOT PREPARED HIS PASSENGERS FOR A HIGH WIND LANDING AND BEGAN TO LIGHTLY VENT OFF HOT AIR. THE BALLOON BEGAN DESCENDING AT APPROXIMATELY 500 FPM. THE PILOT OPENED BOTH VENTS UNTIL IMPACT. ONE PASSENGER WAS THROWN OUT, BUT HUNG ONTO THE GONDOLO. WHEN THE PASSENGER LET GO, THE BALLOON BECAME AIRBORNE. THE BALLOON THEN TOUCHED-DOWN A SECOND TIME AND DRAGGED TO A STOP.
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: 145 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 180 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 14, 1986; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,430 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNK (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Glendale AZ at 3:30 pm
- Destination: Peoria AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 023° at 25 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.