# NTSB LAX88LA255: General Balloon AX-6, N2614M, Pilot Hill, CA, July 14, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 14, 1988, 07:45 local (14:45 UTC)
- Place: Pilot Hill, CA
- Coordinates: 38.800544, -121.039985 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8005&lon=-121.0400&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 11, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26056
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX88LA255
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26056/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88LA255

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - gusts (cause)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

DURING A LOCAL SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT, JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT A GUST OF WIND CAUGHT THE BALLOON. THE PILOT MADE A HIGH WIND LANDING. THE BALLOON WAS DRAGGED SEVERAL FEET BEFORE COMING TO REST. THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTERWARD THE WINDS RETURNED TO CALM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2614M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2614M-2015-05-15), registration cancelled 2015-05-15, S/N 522, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GENERAL BALLOON AX-6
- Registry model: [General Balloon AX-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/general-balloon-ax-6) (registry code 3760202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 533
- Airframe hours: 231
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ehrgott, Alan V.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 1988, 93 hours before
- Departed: PILOT HILL, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; commercial; flight hours: 498 total, 498 in this make and model, 489 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 4 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 110 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °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 19880714026609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880714026609A), Jul 14, 1988: Picard AX6, Pilothill, CA. Wind gust hit balloon just prior to touchdown causing a hard landing and passenger injury.

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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