General Balloon Corp. AX-6 accident near San Martin, California, January 21, 2007
On January 21, 2007 at about 4:30 pm local time, a General Balloon Corp. AX-6, registered N2447Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Martin, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from power lines.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 21, 2007 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- San Martin, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- General Balloon Corp. AX-6
- Registration
- N2447Z · no longer on the register · serial 447
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The hot air balloon collided with power lines during cruise flight. The pilot stated while en route to his destination he was unable to arrest a descent and the wind blew the balloon into the power lines. The skirts and suspension cables were scorched as a result of the contact. He applied sufficient heat in the balloon's envelope and the balloon ascended to about 300 feet above ground level (agl). Shortly thereafter, he performed a landing in an open filed without mishap. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon prior to impact.
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: 983 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 958 in the last 90 days; 158 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Morgan Hill CA
- Destination: San Martin CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 6 knots, gusting 8
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.