# NTSB OAK74FVG16: Semco T, N9975, Sacremento, CA, September 29, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: September 29, 1973
- Place: Sacremento, CA · SACREMENTO, CA
- Location: 38.5816° N, 121.4944° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sacramento, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5816&lon=-121.4944&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 26, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 188460
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK74FVG16
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK74FVG16

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3008  73/9/29    SACREMENTO,CALIF    SEMCO T             CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                PRIVATE, AGE 33, 144
        TIME - 1040                    N9975               PX-  0  1  0  AERIAL ADVERTISING        TOTAL HOURS, 40 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SACREMENTO,CALIF            LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           FIRE OR EXPLOSION: IN FLIGHT                             IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF FLIGHT
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PASSENGER
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - INSTRUCTIONS-MISINTERPRETED
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FIRE IN CABIN,COCKPIT,BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT
        REMARKS- PSGR OPENED FUEL QUICK-DISCONNECT IGNITING FIRE.ATTEMPTING TO CHG FUEL TANKS.INADQT PSGR BRIEF.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9975](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9975-2015-05-05), registration cancelled 2015-05-05, S/N SEM86, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SEMCO T
- Registry model: [Semco Balloon T](https://openairdocs.org/model/semco-balloon-t) (registry code 8071701) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Engines: none
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19730929032739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730929032739A), Sep 29, 1973: Semco T, Sacremento, CA, Substantial damage. Psgr opened fuel quick-disconnect igniting fire. Attempting to chg fuel tanks. Inadqt psgr brief.

## Other investigations on N9975 (1)

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.

- [NTSB OAK74FVG20](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK74FVG20), Dec 8, 1973: Semco T (N9975), Chico, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal

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.