# NTSB CHI75DEE27: Semco TC-4, N65248, Harvard, IL, October 12, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · 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: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 9, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 140973
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI75DEE27
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI75DEE27

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3425  74/10/12   HARVARD,ILL         SEMCO TC-4          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 29, 43 TOTAL
        TIME - 0830                    N65248              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, ALL IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - DACY
        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: WIRES/POLES                               LANDING: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - OTHER
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING OFF AIRPORT
                                  ADVERSE/UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  800
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       61
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           20                                                       20
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- HOT AIR BALLOON.WX BRIEFED BY BALLOON MEISTER,NO FSS BRIEF.UN CK DESCENT RATE.DRAGGED INTO WIRES.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N65248 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SEMCO TC-4
- Category: Balloon
- Engines: none
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Dacy

## 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 19741012035309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19741012035309A), Oct 12, 1974: Semco CHALLENGER, Harvard, IL, Substantial damage. Hot air balloon. Wx briefed by balloon meister,no fss brief. Un ck descent rate. Dragged into wires.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
