# NTSB OAK76FVG98: Piccard AX-6, N6L, Napa, CA, August 5, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: August 5, 1976
- Place: Napa, CA · NAPA, CA
- Location: 38.2971° N, 122.3010° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Napa, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2971&lon=-122.3010&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 1, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 155019
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK76FVG98
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK76FVG98

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1853   76/8/5    NAPA,CA             PICCARD AX-6        CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 42, 58 TOTAL
        TIME - 0930                    N6L                 PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, ALL IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          NAPA,CA                     LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        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                                                      74
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           10                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- ACFT IS A HOT AIR BALLOON WITH BASKET,OPERATING BY BUTANE GAS BURNER.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6L-1989-08-15), registration cancelled 1989-08-15, S/N 441 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PICCARD AX-6
- Registry model: [General Balloon AX-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/general-balloon-ax-6) (registry code 3760202) (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 19760805022509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760805022509A), Aug 5, 1976: Picard AX6, Napa, CA, Substantial damage. Acft is a hot air balloon with basket,operating by butane gas burner.

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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