Raven RX-6 accident near Sun City, California, July 31, 1988
On July 31, 1988 at about 2:05 pm local time, a Raven RX-6 (balloon), registered N1183R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sun City, California (Field). 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
- July 31, 1988 · about 2:05 pm local time
- Place
- Sun City, California · Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raven RX-6
- Registration
- N1183R · no longer on the register · serial RX6 237
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT & PAX DEPARTED ON A LOCAL AREA BALLOON FLT. AFTER 30 MINUTES THE PILOT BEGAN A DESCENT TO AN OPEN FEILD NORTH OF SOME POWER LINES. DURING THE DESCENT THE BALLOON BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT AND THE PILOT REALIZED THAT HIS GROUND CREW DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE FIELD. THE PILOT THEN ELECTED TO LAND TO THE SOUTH OF THE POWER LINES. HOWEVER, WHEN THE BALLOON WAS 5-7 FT NORTH OF THE POWER LINES THE PLT REALIZED THAT HE MIGHT CONTACT THE WIRES. HE APPLIED FULL BURNER, BUT TO NO AVAIL; THE BALLOON'S GONDALA STRUCK THE POWER LINES.
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: 62 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 53 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 327 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 2, 1987; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,430 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNKNOWN (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 1 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from RIV, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.