# NTSB FTW76AF022: Semco TC-4, N3810, Baton Rouge, LA, September 19, 1975

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 19, 1975
- Place: Baton Rouge, LA · BATON ROUGE, LA
- Location: 30.4507° N, 91.1546° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Baton Rouge, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4507&lon=-91.1546&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 14, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 151257
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW76AF022
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW76AF022

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3018  75/9/19    BATON ROUGE,LA      SEMCO TC-4          CR-  0  1  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 29, 108
        TIME - 0935                    N3810               PX-  1  0  0  AERIAL ADVERTISING        TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BATON ROUGE,LA              LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          PARTIAL OBSCURATION                                      UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          FOG                                                      120
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           5                                                       IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- PROPANE HOT AIR BALLOON HIT WIRES LDG IN FLD. GONDOLA CAUGHT FIRE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3810](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3810-1976-08-06), registration cancelled 1976-08-06, S/N SEM-96, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SEMCO TC-4
- Registry model: [Semco Balloon CHALLENGER](https://openairdocs.org/model/semco-balloon-challenger) (registry code 8070802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- 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 19750919033589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19750919033589A), Sep 19, 1975: Semco CHALLENGER, Baton Rouge, LA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Propane hot air balloon hit wires ldg in fld. Gondola caught fire.

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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