General Balloon AX-6 N2490Z

Summary

On 17 May 1986 at about 15:45 local time, a General Balloon AX-6 registered N2490Z was involved in an accident near Temecula, California, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

17 May 1986 at 15:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Temecula, California, United States

Nearest airport

Rancho California (2L0)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

General Balloon AX-6

Registration

N2490Z

Category

Balloon

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Temecula → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX86FA223

2 people died.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE BALLOON WAS GOING TO PARTICIPATE IN A 'HARE AND HOUND' EVENT AND HAD DEPARTED A FESTIVAL STAGING AREA ON A POSITIONING FLIGHT. PRIOR TO DEPARTING THE AREA THE BALLOON HAD FLOWN FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES. WHILE ENROUTE TO THE POSITIONING AREA THE BALLOON HAD EXHAUSTED ITS LIQUID PROPANE SUPPLY. ONE OCCUPANT IN THE BALLOON WAS ATTEMPTING TO THROW A ROPE TO GROUND WITNESSES BUT DURING THE DESCENT THE BASKET CONTACTED SOME 31 FT AGL HIGH TENSION WIRES. ALL 12 CABLES AND THE HEATER CONTROL PANEL DISPLAYED EXTENSIVE BURNING/ARCING SIGNATURES AND ALL OF THE 1/4 IN STAINLESS STEEL CABLES WERE BURNED THROUGH & SEPARATED FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE ATTACH POINTS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.