Raven RX 6 accident near North Lebannon, Maine, July 3, 1984
On July 3, 1984, a Raven RX 6 (balloon), registered N5568A, was destroyed in an accident near North Lebannon, Maine. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 1984
- Place
- North Lebannon, Maine
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raven RX 6
- Registration
- N5568A · registry record · serial RX6-366
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
STUDENT BALLOON PILOT WAS ON THIRD SUPERVISED SOLO FLT WITH HIS FLT INSTRUCTOR ACTING AS MEMBER OF THE CHASE CREW. PLT WAS CONTROLLING DESCENT WITH SHORT BURSTS OF PROPANE BURNER.GROUND CONTACT WAS HARD ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE BALLOON SKIRT TO CONTINUE DOWNWARD MOTION TO THE GROUND. AS ENVELOPE REBOUNDED THE GONDOLA FILLED WITH PROPANE WHICH IGNITED. INSTRUCTOR ASSISTED PLT IN EVACUATING AS BALLOON BECAME AIRBORNE, ASCENDED TO APRX 1500 FT WITH GONDOLA IN FLAMES AND EXPLODED.
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: student
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 18 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command; 15 on instruments
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 186 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 30, 1984; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 619 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: South Lebanon ME at 11:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC84FNC05.