# NTSB ANC73FAG85: Piccard AX-6, N56US, Wasilla, AK, April 29, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 29, 1973
- Place: Wasilla, AK · WASILLA, AK
- Location: 61.5785° N, 149.4763° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wasilla, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5785&lon=-149.4763&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 14, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 190015
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC73FAG85
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC73FAG85

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2248  73/4/29    WASILLA,ALAS        PICCARD AX-6        CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 24, 16
        TIME - 0830                    N56US               PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WASILLA
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PALMER,ALAS                UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF POWERPLANT & POWERPLANT CONTROLS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH AIRCRAFT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- PLT FAILED TO OPEN FUEL SUPPLY VALVE COMPLETELY. BALLOON SETTLED INTO TREES.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N56US](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N56US-2016-05-25), registration cancelled 2016-05-25, S/N 656 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PICCARD AX-6
- Registry model: [Piccard AX-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/piccard-ax-6) (registry code 7001218) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Engines: none
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Wasilla

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19730429019619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730429019619A), Apr 29, 1973: Picard AX6, Wasilla, AK, Destroyed. Plt failed to open fuel supply valve completely. Balloon settled into trees.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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