Raven S-55 accident near Burlington, Iowa, April 29, 1988
On April 29, 1988 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Raven S-55 (balloon), registered N6436U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Burlington, Iowa (Burlington airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person 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
- April 29, 1988 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Burlington, Iowa · Burlington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raven S-55 · all S-55s on the register
- Registration
- N6436U · no longer on the register · serial S55A 3013
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND THE BALLOON DURING A COMMERCIAL OPERATION, A DUST DEVIL WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE BALLOON AND GONDOLA TWISTED AND PITCHED VIOLENTLY. DURING A HARD LANDING, THE PIC WAS THROWN FROM THE AIRCRAFT, AND THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO BOUNCE ALONG THE TERRAIN, UNTIL IT COLLIDED WITH 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 364 hours in all; 364 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 350 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 80 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1987; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNKNOWN (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BRL Burlington IA at 8:45 pm
- Destination: BRL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 6 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.