Raven S-55A accident near Peoria, Arizona, December 26, 1992
On December 26, 1992 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Raven S-55A (balloon), registered N2815S, was involved in an accident near Peoria, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE BALLOON'S ENCOUNTER WITH A GUSTY WIND SHEAR CONDITION DURING THE FINAL DESCENT FOR LANDING AT AN ALTITUDE INSUFFICIENT FOR THE PILOT TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION TO PREVENT A HARD LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 26, 1992 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Peoria, Arizona
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raven S-55A · all S-55As on the register
- Registration
- N2815S · no longer on the register · serial S55A-1108
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT AFTER TAKEOFF THE BALLOON DRIFTED IN A NORTHWEST DIRECTION UNTIL IT REACHED A LARGE FIELD THE PILOT HAD SELECTED FOR LANDING. AT ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL THE PILOT SAID THE BALLOON ENCOUNTERED A LARGE GUST OF WIND AND A WINDSHEAR WHICH PUSHED IT INTO THE GROUND AND CAUSED A HARD LANDING. THE PILOT NOTED THAT HE HAD OBSERVED TWO OTHER BALLOONS MAKE SOFT LANDINGS IN THE SAME FIELD ABOUT 10 MINUTES PRIOR TO HIS LANDING ATTEMPT. A PASSENGER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED FOOT AND VERTEBRAE DURING THE HARD LANDING.
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: 92 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 92 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 230 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 20, 1992; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,435 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 30°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.