Raven S-66A accident near Washington Town, New Jersey, June 20, 1982
On June 20, 1982 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Raven S-66A (balloon), registered N57023, suffered minor damage in an accident near Washington Town, New Jersey. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were 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
- June 20, 1982 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Washington Town, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raven S-66A
- Registration
- N57023 · no longer on the register · serial S-66A-104
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT MOMENTS AFTER INITIAL GROUND CONTACT (DURING LANDING), A PASSENGER REPORTED THAT HE THOUGHT HIS LEG HAD FRACTURED. THE PASSENGER REPORTED THAT THE FRACTURE OCCURRED AFTER INITIAL IMPACT, WHEN ANOTHER PASSENGER LEANED OR STEPPED ON HIS LEG. THE PILOT ESTIMATED THIS WIND WAS BLOWING AT 9 KNOTS. THERE WERE FOUR PASSENGERS ON BOARD.
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: 616 hours in all; 130 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 320 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Operator: Balloon Enterprises,Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: Hopewell Townsh NJ at 7:00 am
- Destination: Hopewell Townsh NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 310° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 147°F (64°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.