Barnes AX-6B N2023H

Summary

On 28 May 1983 at about 11:45 local time, a Barnes AX-6B registered N2023H was involved in an accident near Decatur, Alabama, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

28 May 1983 at 11:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Decatur, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

34.5695, -86.9803

Aircraft

Barnes AX-6B

Registration

N2023H

Category

Balloon

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL83LA209

1 person was seriously injured.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE BALLOON WAS LAUNCHED FROM A FIELD WITH POWER LINES ALONG THE EAST SIDE AFTER ANOTHER BALLOON WAS LAUNCHED. THE FIRST BALLOON WAS APRX 50 FT FROM THE POWER LINE WHEN IT WAS LAUNCHED. WHEN IT TOOKOFF, IT TRAVELED TO THE NORTH NORTHWEST & REMAINED WELL CLEAR OF THE POWER LINES. THE SECOND BALLOON, N2023H, LIFTED OFF APRX 35 FT FROM THE POWER LINES. IMMEDIATELY AFTER LIFT-OFF, N2023H CLIMBED TOWARDS THE POWER LINES & CONTACTED THE TOP TWO WIRES. ELECTRICAL ARCING OCCURRED WHICH DAMAGED THE GONDOLA. THE PLT WAS BURNED ON HIS RIGHT SIDE, RIGHT ARM & RIGHT SIDE OF HIS FACE, AND WAS INCAPACITATED. THE PASSENGER RECEIVED ONLY MINOR BURNS TO HIS HANDS & WAS ABLE TO LAND THE BALLOON WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. LATER, THE PLT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SUDDEN WIND SHIFT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.