# NTSB CHI75AC032: Semco AX-7, N14545, Harvard, IL, October 12, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 12, 1974
- Place: Harvard, IL · HARVARD, IL
- Location: 42.4296° N, 88.6211° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Harvard, IL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4296&lon=-88.6211&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 21, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 144841
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI75AC032
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI75AC032

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4250  74/10/12   HARVARD,ILL         SEMCO AX-7          CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 0825                    N14545              PX-  1  1  0  AIR SHOW/RACING           38, 15300 TOTAL HOURS, 20
                                       DAMAGE-MINOR        OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          FONTANA,WIS                UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: OTHER
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - OTHER
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING OFF AIRPORT
                                  ADVERSE/UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          FOG                                                       10
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           30                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- HOT AIR BALLOON.INADQT WX BRIEF BY BALLOON-MEISTER.HARD LDG,PLT & PAX THROWN OUT,CONT INTO TREES.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N14545](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N14545-1998-04-23), registration cancelled 1998-04-23, S/N SEM150 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SEMCO AX-7
- Registry model: [Semco Balloon CHALLENGER](https://openairdocs.org/model/semco-balloon-challenger) (registry code 8070802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Engines: none
- Damage: Minor damage

## 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 19741012043329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19741012043329A), Oct 12, 1974: Semco CHALLENGER, Harvard, IL, Minor damage, 1 fatal. Hot air balloon. Inadqt wx brief by balloon-meister. Hard ldg,plt & pax thrown out,cont 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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