# NTSB CHI79DEP29: Piccard AX-3, N51880, Missing Aircraft, February 6, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 6, 1979
- Place: Missing Aircraft · MISSING AIRCRAFT, UN
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 137243
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI79DEP29
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79DEP29

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2406   79/2/6    MISSING AIRCRAFT    PICCARD AX-3        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 44, UNK/NR
        TIME - UNK/NR                  N51880              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ROCKFORD,IL                 LAKE GENEVA,IL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           MISSING AIRCRAFT,NOT RECOVERED                           UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNDETERMINED
        REMARKS- A/C DAMAGE & INJURY INDEX PRESUMED.ON 4-28-79 2 PROPANE TANKS FOUND ON MI SHORELINE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N51880](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51880-2012-08-13), registration cancelled 2012-08-13, S/N SM-1, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PICCARD AX-3
- Registry model: [Piccard AX-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/piccard-ax-3) (registry code 7001213) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon, amateur-built
- Engines: none
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19790206026569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790206026569A), Feb 6, 1979: Amtrpi AX3, WI. Acft & pilot missing. When last seen the balloon was traveling NE over lake Michigan.

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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