Balloon Works FIREFLY AX-7 N40532
18 June 1985 · Somonauk, Illinois, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 18 June 1985 at about 01:15 local time, a Balloon Works FIREFLY AX-7 registered N40532, operated by Ronald W. Pierce, was involved in an accident near Somonauk, Illinois, United States. 4 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 3 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.
The record
- Date
- at 01:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Somonauk, Illinois, United States
- Coordinates
- 41.6308, -88.6802
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works FIREFLY AX-7
- Registration
- N40532
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Ronald W. Pierce
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Somonauk → Sandwich
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Dusk
- NTSB number
- CHI85FEE02
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 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 BALLOON COLLIDED WITH POWERLINES DURING TAKEOFF. THE WIND WAS REPORTED AS 10-15 MPH WITH GUSTS. THE OPERATION WAS CANCELED DUE TO THE WIND AFTER 6 SUCCESSFUL LAUNCHES. THE LAST PLT WAS REPORTEDLY PRESSURED TO GO BY HIS PASS'G AND A GUST OF WIND BLEW THEM INTO THE WIRES. ONE PERSON WAS THROWN FROM THE BASKET DURING THE COLLISION AND SUFFERED BROKEN BONES IN HIS ARMS AND RIBS. THE OTHER 3 HAD JUMPED AS INSTRUCTED BY THE PLT AND ESCAPED INJURY.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Balloon Works FIREFLY accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Nov 1985 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 6B | Englewood, Colorado, United States | J. Robert Pendleton | Minor injuries | - |
| 7 Apr 1985 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 7B | Orlando, Florida, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 3 Jul 1985 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 | Owensboro, Kentucky, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 1 Sep 1985 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 | Littleton, Colorado, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 1 Aug 1985 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8 | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 17 Mar 1985 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 | Arlington, Texas, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1985 | Cessna 170A | Murphysboro, Illinois, United States | Paul E. van Houten | Fatal | 1 |
| 17 Nov 1985 | Cessna 172N | Mt Carmel, Illinois, United States | Frank J. Altadonna | Fatal | 2 |
| 29 Nov 1985 | Beechcraft BE 36 | Odell, Illinois, United States | Eugene Bouska | Fatal | 2 |
| 29 Nov 1985 | Cessna 404 II | Chicago, Illinois, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 2 Jan 1985 | Cessna 172M | Mt Sterling, Illinois, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Jan 1985 | Piper PA-32-301 | Wheeling, Illinois, United States | Holiday Airways | No injuries | - |