Raven S77A accident near Tucson, Arizona, July 26, 1987
On July 26, 1987 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Raven S77A (balloon), registered N43995, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tucson, Arizona. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured and 4 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
- July 26, 1987 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tucson, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured and 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raven S77A
- Registration
- N43995 · no longer on the register · serial S77A112
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LOCAL SIGHTSEEING BALLOON FLIGHT, THE PLT WAS MAKING A LANDING AT AN OPEN CONSTRUCTION SITE. THE GONDOLA TOUCHED DOWN THEN SKIPPED THREE TIMES AND CAME TO REST ON THE EDGE OF A LEDGE APRX 10 FT IN HEIGHT. THE BALLOON TIPPED OVER THE EDGE AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN AND MISC CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS BELOW. THE INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS WERE SUSTAINED FROM THE FALL OFF THE LEDGE WHEN THE BALLOON TIPPED OVER. THE PLTS FLT TIME WAS NOT AVAILABLE EXCEPT 1176 HRS REPORTED AS LIGHTER THAN AIR.
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: 1,176 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 209 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 21, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Tucson AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from TUS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 4 |
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.