Piccard AX-6 accident near Azle, Texas, July 11, 1983
On July 11, 1983 at about 12:45 pm local time, a Piccard AX-6 (balloon), registered N99US, was substantially damaged in an accident near Azle, Texas. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 1983 · about 12:45 pm local time
- Place
- Azle, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piccard AX-6 · all AX-6s on the register
- Registration
- N99US · no longer on the register · serial 699 483-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LANDING IN LIGHT WIND CONDITIONS, THE BALLOON TOUCHED DOWN BESIDE A POWER LINE. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE BALLOON ENVELOPE COLLAPSED OVER THE POWER LINE WHICH CARRIED 7200 VOLTS. THE VOLTAGE TRAVELED TO THE BASKET/GONDOLA WHICH OVERTURNED ON THE GRASS SURFACE. THE PLT & 1 PASSENGER WERE FATALLY INJURED DUE TO CARDIAC ARREST FROM ELECTROCUTION. THE BALLOON WAS DAMAGED FROM HIGH VOLTAGE DISCHARGE TO GROUND, FLASH BURNS & SCORCHING. ALSO, A SMALL GRASS FIRE WAS STARTED BUT WAS EXTINGUISHED BY PERSONNEL AT THE ACCIDENT SITE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 374 hours in all; 374 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, July 31, 1982
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: TX Aledo TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N99US the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.