# NTSB OAK76DXQ48: Piccard AX-6W, N69US, Quincy, CA, May 31, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: May 31, 1976
- Place: Quincy, CA · QUINCY, CA
- Location: 39.9310° N, 120.9549° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Quincy, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9310&lon=-120.9549&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 25, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 154178
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK76DXQ48
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK76DXQ48

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1171  76/5/31    QUINCY,CA           PICCARD AX-6W       CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 50, 1302
        TIME - 0655                    N69US               PX-  0  0  2  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 31 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - GANSNER
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          QUINCY,CA                   LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      55
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- UNABLE TO CLIMB AFTER ENCOUNTERING DOWN DRAFT. EQUIPPED WITH 3 BUTANE BURNERS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N69US](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N69US-2022-05-09), registration cancelled 2022-05-09, S/N 669 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PICCARD AX-6W
- 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
- Airport: Gansner

## 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 19760531013719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760531013719A), May 31, 1976: Picard AX6, Quincy, CA, Substantial damage. Unable to climb after encountering down draft. Equipped with 3 butane burners.

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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