Semco CHALLENGER N8554N
10 September 1983 · Tucson, Arizona, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 10 September 1983 at about 01:30 local time, a Semco CHALLENGER registered N8554N was involved in an accident near Tucson, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. No probable cause statement is available for this record.
The record
- Date
- at 01:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Tucson, Arizona, United States
- Coordinates
- 32.2003, -110.9509
- Aircraft
- Semco CHALLENGER
- Registration
- N8554N
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Not recorded
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX83FUJ16
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
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 PILOT WAS OUTSIDE THE BASKET WHEN THE BALLOON TOOK OFF. HE GRABBED THE DEFLATION HANDLE AND THE BALLOON CARRIED HIM ALOFT. HE FELL FROM ABOUT 40 FT AGL ONTO HIS HEAD AND WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE PILOT REPORTEDLY WAS GOING TO TETHER THE BALLOON. DURING INFLATION THE BURNER SLIPPED OUT OF ONE HOLDER & INFLATION WAS INTERRUPTED TO WORK ON THE BURNER WHEN THE IMPROPERLY SECURED BALLOON LIFTED OFF. DURING INVESTIGATION THE PLASTIC COATING ON THE DEFLATION LINE WAS FOUND TO BE SEPARATED WHERE IT GOES THROUGH THE 'D' RING ATTACHED TO HE ENVELOPE. THE DEFLATION LINE AND THE VENT LINE WERE FOUND TO BE TANGLED.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Semco CHALLENGER accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Oct 1994 | Semco CHALLENGER | Miami, Florida, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Oct 1983 | Bell 206L-3 | Grand Canyon, Arizona, United States | Grand Canyon Helicopters | No injuries | - |
| 18 Mar 1983 | Taylorcraft BC12D | San Manuel, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Mar 1983 | Boeing D75N1 | Marana, Arizona, United States | James Bradley | No injuries | - |
| 24 Mar 1983 | Cessna 401 | Near Globe, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 21 Nov 1983 | Piper PA-28-236 | Wikieup, Arizona, United States | Deer Valley Avionics | Fatal | 4 |
| 26 Mar 1983 | Cessna 150G | Glendale, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |