NTSB Reports
Aviation Safety Intelligence
Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

Get the iPhone App
63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

September 2, 1985 · Piccard AX6 · N2484Z

Pilot Hill, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 2, 1985
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury), 3 uninjured
Location
Pilot Hill, CA
Aircraft
Piccard AX6
Tail Number
N2484Z
Injuries
Serious
NTSB Number
LAX85LA395

DURING INFLATION OF THE BALLOON PRIOR TO FLT, THE PLT SAID HE NOTICED A 5 KT GUST OF WIND. PLT THEN SENT A SMALL BALLOON ALOFT TO TEST THE WIND AND SAID IT 'SHOWED A SLOWING OF THE WIND' AT 60 TO 80 FT AGL & ACCEPTABLE FLT CONDITIONS. AFTER LAUNCH THE WIND SHIFTED & BEGAN MOVING THE BALLOON TOWARD A HEAVILY FORESTED AREA DEVOID OF SAFE LANDING SITES. THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND IN A CLEARING WHEN IT BECAME EVIDENT THAT THE FLT PATH WOULD NOT CHANGE. THE PLT SAID HE ACTIVATED THE TEAR-OUT PANEL ABOUT 10 FT AGL & THE BALLOON BOUNCED, PARTIALLY EJECTING A PASSENGER. THE EJECTED PASSENGER WAS RESTRAINED BY ANOTHER PASSENGER & SUBSEQUENTLY DRAGGED ALONG THE GROUND WITH THE BALLOON BASKET. THE EJECTED PASSENGER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED RIB.

Full Narrative

DURING INFLATION OF THE BALLOON PRIOR TO FLT, THE PLT SAID HE NOTICED A 5 KT GUST OF WIND. PLT THEN SENT A SMALL BALLOON ALOFT TO TEST THE WIND AND SAID IT 'SHOWED A SLOWING OF THE WIND' AT 60 TO 80 FT AGL & ACCEPTABLE FLT CONDITIONS. AFTER LAUNCH THE WIND SHIFTED & BEGAN MOVING THE BALLOON TOWARD A HEAVILY FORESTED AREA DEVOID OF SAFE LANDING SITES. THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND IN A CLEARING WHEN IT BECAME EVIDENT THAT THE FLT PATH WOULD NOT CHANGE. THE PLT SAID HE ACTIVATED THE TEAR-OUT PANEL ABOUT 10 FT AGL & THE BALLOON BOUNCED, PARTIALLY EJECTING A PASSENGER. THE EJECTED PASSENGER WAS RESTRAINED BY ANOTHER PASSENGER & SUBSEQUENTLY DRAGGED ALONG THE GROUND WITH THE BALLOON BASKET. THE EJECTED PASSENGER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED RIB.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:00 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiccard AX6
Tail NumberN2484Z
Aircraft CategoryBall
Operating RulePart 91
Engines0
Engine TypeUnknown
Engine DetailsUnknown

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury), 3 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total4
Crew 1Age 33 · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind360° @ 5 kt, gusting 10 kt
Visibility8 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

External Links

Appendix: Source Data