Raven S-55A accident near Tucson, Arizona, February 22, 1987
On February 22, 1987 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Raven S-55A (balloon), registered N4261R, was involved in an accident near Tucson, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- February 22, 1987 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tucson, Arizona
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raven S-55A · all S-55As on the register
- Registration
- N4261R · no longer on the register · serial S-55A-1052
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PLEASURE FLIGHT, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT UPON TAKE-OFF, THE WIND WAS CALM. WHILE IN-FLIGHT THE WIND INCREASED AND THE PILOT PREPARED FOR A HIGH WIND LANDING. THE BALLOON TOUCHED-DOWN HARD AND HIT A BUSH. THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER WERE EJECTED FROM THE GONDOLA. THE BALLOON BECAME AIRBORNE THEN TOUCHED-DOWN A SECOND TIME APPROXIMATELY 50 YARDS FROM THE INITIAL IMPACT. THE PILOT'S FLT TIME WAS NOT REPORTED/NOT AVAILABLE.
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
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 180 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 11, 1986; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,435 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Tucson AZ at 3:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 11 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from TUS
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.