# NTSB LAX85LA395: Piccard AX6, N2484Z, Pilot Hill, CA, September 2, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 2, 1985, 08:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Pilot Hill, CA
- Coordinates: 38.800228, -121.040298 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8002&lon=-121.0403&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24839
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85LA395
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24839/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA395

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING INFLATION OF THE BALLOON PRIOR TO FLT, THE PLT SAID HE NOTICED A 5 KT GUST OF WIND.  PLT THEN SENT A SMALL BALLOON ALOFT TO TEST THE WIND AND SAID IT 'SHOWED A SLOWING OF THE WIND' AT 60 TO 80 FT AGL & ACCEPTABLE FLT CONDITIONS.  AFTER LAUNCH THE WIND SHIFTED & BEGAN MOVING THE BALLOON TOWARD A HEAVILY FORESTED AREA DEVOID OF SAFE LANDING SITES.  THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND IN A CLEARING WHEN IT BECAME EVIDENT THAT THE FLT PATH WOULD NOT CHANGE.  THE PLT SAID HE ACTIVATED THE TEAR-OUT PANEL ABOUT 10 FT AGL & THE BALLOON BOUNCED, PARTIALLY EJECTING A PASSENGER.  THE EJECTED PASSENGER WAS RESTRAINED BY ANOTHER PASSENGER & SUBSEQUENTLY DRAGGED ALONG THE GROUND WITH THE BALLOON BASKET.  THE EJECTED PASSENGER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED RIB.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2484Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2484Z-1989-03-21), registration cancelled 1989-03-21, S/N 486 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piccard AX6
- Registry model: [General Balloon AX-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/general-balloon-ax-6) (registry code 3760202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 486
- Airframe hours: 224
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Alan Ehrgott
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 2, 1984, 64 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial; flight hours: 234 total, 234 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F

## 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 19850902045519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850902045519A), Sep 2, 1985: Picard AX6, Pilot Hill, CA. Bounced and dragged basket landing in gusty winds. Passenger partially ejected and dragged on ground was injured.

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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