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NTSB Report
June 6, 1987 · Piccard AX-6 · N2496Z
Gaithersburg, MD
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 6, 1987
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Location
Gaithersburg, MD
Aircraft
Piccard AX-6
Tail Number
N2496Z
Operator
Robert Vannewkirk
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
BFO87LA041
AFTER TWO ABORTED LANDINGS THE PILOT SAW A FIELD IN THE DISTANCE AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND. ALTHOUGH TWO OTHER BALLOONS HAD LANDED NEARBY, THE FIELD HE WAS BLOWN TOWARDS HAD NUMEROUS POWERLINES SURROUNDING IT, SOME OF THEM AT TREETOP HEIGHT. DURING THE APPROACH FOR LANDING THE BALLOON CONTACTED A 69,000 VOLT POWERLINE, CAUGHT FIRE AND EXPLODED AFTER GROUND CONTACT.
Full Narrative
AFTER TWO ABORTED LANDINGS THE PILOT SAW A FIELD IN THE DISTANCE AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND. ALTHOUGH TWO OTHER BALLOONS HAD LANDED NEARBY, THE FIELD HE WAS BLOWN TOWARDS HAD NUMEROUS POWERLINES SURROUNDING IT, SOME OF THEM AT TREETOP HEIGHT. DURING THE APPROACH FOR LANDING THE BALLOON CONTACTED A 69,000 VOLT POWERLINE, CAUGHT FIRE AND EXPLODED AFTER GROUND CONTACT.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time07:21 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd
Aircraft
AircraftPiccard AX-6
Tail NumberN2496Z
Aircraft CategoryBall
DamageDestroyed
OperatorRobert Vannewkirk
Operating RulePart 91
Engine TypeUnknown
Engine DetailsUnknown
People & Injuries
Injury Summary2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Fatal1
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 38 · None
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind290° @ 7 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F / 54
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time10:52
Weather SourceWFAC