Thunder And Colt AX7-77 accident near Sierra Vista, Arizona, October 31, 1992
On October 31, 1992 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Thunder And Colt AX7-77 (balloon), registered N666TE, was destroyed in an accident near Sierra Vista, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FLIGHT'S ENCOUNTER WITH UNFORECAST UNFAVORABLE WINDS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 31, 1992 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sierra Vista, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Thunder And Colt AX7-77
- Registration
- N666TE · no longer on the register · serial 1020
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE BALLOON WAS THE LAST TO DEPART THE PARK. UPON ARRIVAL AT THE DESTINATION SUBDIVISION THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED EXTENSIVE GUSTING WINDS. DURING THE INITIAL LANDING THE PILOT HAD TO LIFT OFF WHEN THE BALLOON PRECEDING IT ENCOUNTERED DIFFICULTY. THE WIND VELOCITY INCREASED IN INTENSITY. THE PILOT MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO LAND, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO DUE TO THE GUSTING WIND CONDITIONS. ON THE FINAL LANDING THE WINDS DRAGGED THE BALLOON ON TOUCH DOWN UNTIL IT COLLIDED WITH THE WIRES. THE REPORTED WIND AT AN ADJACENT AIRFIELD WAS FROM THE WEST AT 10 KNOTS GUSTING TO 19 KNOTS.
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: 212 hours in all; 193 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 197 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 193 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 7, 1992; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,694 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:58 pm from FHU, 1 miles away
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.