Raven AX-9 accident near Green River, Utah, November 2, 1992
On November 2, 1992 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Raven AX-9 (balloon), registered N57139, was substantially damaged in an accident near Green River, Utah. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 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 INADEQUATE PREFLT PLANNING/PREPARATION BY THE PILOT RESULTING IN INFLT ENCOUNTER WITH WEATHER AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER RATE OF DESCENT DURING AN EMERGENCY FORCED LANDING. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE TURBULENT WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 2, 1992 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Green River, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raven AX-9
- Registration
- N57139 · no longer on the register · serial S66A-111
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TOOK OFF FROM A REMOTE SITE WITHOUT OBTAINING A WEATHER BRIEFING, ENCOUNTERED FCST TURB DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, WHICH PITCHED THE BALLOON INTO AN UNUSUAL ATTITUDE AND PARTIALLY DEFLATED THE ENVELOPE. THE PILOT INITIATED AN EMERGENCY FORCED LANDING, ACTIVATED THE DEFLATION LINE AT 40 FT. AGL, AND THE BASKET IMPACTED THE GROUND AT 400 TO 600 FPM. AN ADVISORY WAS IN EFFECT FOR OCNL MDT TO ISOLD SVR TURB.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 514 hours in all; 54 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 364 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 588 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 17, 1992; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:35 pm from HVE, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 | 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.