# NTSB OAK76DVW12: Thunder AX-7, N5217, Death Valley, CA, January 24, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: January 24, 1976
- Place: Death Valley, CA · DEATH VALLEY, CA
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report February 19, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 151954
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK76DVW12
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK76DVW12

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0048  76/1/24  NR.DEATH VALLEY,CA    THUNDER AX-7        CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 34, 136
        TIME - 1045                    N5217               PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         DEATH VALLEY,CA              BADWATER,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           TURBULENCE                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      75
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           50                                                       20
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- GONDOLA DRAGGED ACROSS ROCK,BALLOON CAUGHT FIRE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5217 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: THUNDER AX-7
- 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 19760124000849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760124000849A), Jan 24, 1976: Semco CHALLENGER, Death Valley, CA, Destroyed. Gondola dragged across rock,balloon 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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