Barnes AX-7 accident near Henderson, Nevada, March 6, 1982
On March 6, 1982 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Barnes AX-7 (balloon), registered N90790, was involved in an accident near Henderson, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- March 6, 1982 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Henderson, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Barnes AX-7
- Registration
- N90790 · no longer on the register · serial 142
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE INFLATING THE BALLOON, THE PILOT HAD SOME TROUBLE KEEPING THE PILOT LIGHT LIT. AFTER THE BALLOON WAS INFLATED, IT WAS FLOWN ON A 20 MINUTE FLIGHT WITHOUT INCIDENT. HOWEVER, WHILE LANDING ON THE SECOND FLIGHT, THE BALLOON BOUNCE DURING TOUCHDOWN. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME THERE WAS ABOUT A 90 DEGREE WINDSHIFT AND THE BALLOON STARTED DRIFTING TOWARD SOME ROCKS. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LIGHT THE BURNER TO CLEAR THE ROCKS, BUT REPORTEDLY HAD A FLAME OUT. THE PILOT WAS KNOCKED OUT OF THE BASKET AND INJURED WHEN IT HIT THE ROCKS. WITH LESS WEIGHT IN THE BASKET, THE BALLOON BEGAN A RAPID CLIMB. ANOTHER BALLOON PILOT WAS ALSO ON BOARD. HE ASSUMED CONTROL AND LANDED THE BALLOON SAFELY.
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: 91 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 243 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 2 hours since
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Henderson NV at 7:30 am
- Destination: Henderson NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 131°F (55°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.
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.