# NTSB OAK75AP012: Piccard AX-6, N53US, Tracy, CA, September 21, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 21, 1974
- Place: Tracy, CA · TRACY, CA
- Location: 37.7274° N, 121.4522° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tracy, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7274&lon=-121.4522&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report October 11, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 136831
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK75AP012
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK75AP012

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2737  74/9/21    TRACY,CALIF         PICCARD AX-6        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 29, 29 TOTAL
        TIME - 0700                    N53US               PX-  1  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, ALL IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TRACY,CALIF                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE INSPECTION OF AIRCRAFT (OWNER-PILOT)
           AIRFRAME - FUSELAGE: SKIN AND ATTACHMENTS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DETERIORATED
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - PREVIOUS DAMAGE
        REMARKS- VELCRO SEALING STRIPS OVER DEFLATION PANEL OPENED ALLOWING BAG DEFLATION.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N53US](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N53US-2018-04-24), registration cancelled 2018-04-24, S/N 653, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PICCARD AX-6
- Registry model: [Piccard AX-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/piccard-ax-6) (registry code 7001218) (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 19740921031559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740921031559A), Sep 21, 1974: Picard AX6, Tracy, CA, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Velcro sealing strips over deflation panel opened allowing bag deflation.

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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