Barnes AX-7 accident near Sun City, Arizona, November 25, 1989
On November 25, 1989 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Barnes AX-7 (balloon), registered N4058F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sun City, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE STUDENT PILOT (HIS FAILURE TO SEE & AVOID). THE TRANSMISSION LINE AND THE STUDENT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AREA WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 25, 1989 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sun City, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Barnes AX-7
- Registration
- N4058F · no longer on the register · serial 10118
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE BALLOON PILOT WAS LATE TO VISUALLY ACQUIRE A SECOND SET OF POWER LINES DURING A NORMAL APPROACH TO LAND IN A RIVER BED. WHEN HE DID SEE THE SECOND SET OF LINES, HE ATTEMPTED TO FLY OVER THEM, BUT THE BALLOON COLLIDED WITH THE HIGHEST WIRE. THE PLT THEN MADE A SUCCESSFUL LANDING, EXCEPT HE & THE BALLOON HAD RECEIVED FLASH BURNS.
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: student
- Flight time: 16 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,660 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNKNOWN (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.