Balloon Works BARNES AX-8 accident near Monroe, Washington, June 24, 1984
On June 24, 1984 at about 3:20 am local time, a Balloon Works BARNES AX-8, registered N1509H, was involved in an accident near Monroe, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 6 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
- June 24, 1984 · about 3:20 am local time
- Place
- Monroe, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 6 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works BARNES AX-8 BARNES AX-
- Registration
- N1509H · no longer on the register · serial F8-002
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE BALLON DESCENT, THE PLT SAID HE BRIEFED THE PASSENGERS TO BEND THEIR KNEES & HOLD ONTO SOMETHING INSIDE THE BASKET. ACCORDING TO THE PLT , THE DESCENT BECAME MORE RAPID DUE TO A DOWNDRAFT. THE PASSENGERS WERE AGAIN WARNED TO 'HANG ON' BECAUSE IT WAS GOING TO BE A HARD LANDING. ON IMPACT, SOME OF THE PASSENGERS FELL INTO & ONTO EACH OTHER & ONE SUSTAINED A COMPOUND FRACTURE OF THE LOWER LEFT LEG.
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
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 249 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 23, 1983; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,020 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Woodenville WA at 2:20 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 5 |
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.