Balloon Works FIREFLY-7 N2210H
8 August 1989 · Indianola, Iowa, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 8 August 1989 at about 13:00 local time, a Balloon Works FIREFLY-7 registered N2210H, operated by Reinert, Michael P., was involved in an accident near Indianola, Iowa, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 13:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Indianola, Iowa, United States
- Coordinates
- 41.3601, -93.5606
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works FIREFLY-7
- Registration
- N2210H
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Reinert, Michael P.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Indianola → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- MKC89LA175
People
3 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Probable cause
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE TV TOWER DUE TO IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION. UNFAVORABLE WIND/WINDSHEAR AND THE TALL TOWER WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PLT SAID THE ACDNT OCCURRED WHILE HE WAS PARTICIPATING IN 'THE NATIONAL CLASSICS' WITH OTHER HOT AIR BALLOONISTS. HE STATED THAT WHILE ASCENDING, THE BALLOON ENCOUNTERED WIND SHEAR THAT TOOK IT OFF COURSE TOWARD A TALL TV TOWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE BALLOON COLLIDED WITH THE TOWER AT ABOUT THE 190 FT LEVEL, THEN IT DESCENDED UNCONTROLLABLY TO THE GROUND.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Balloon Works FIREFLY accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Nov 1989 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Richard K. Tanner | Minor injuries | - |
| 31 Aug 1989 | Balloon Works FIREFLY | Hatboro, Pennsylvania, United States | John W. Edling | Serious injuries | - |
| 6 Aug 1989 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B | Louisville, Colorado, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 11 Jun 1989 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B | Garner, North Carolina, United States | The Balloon Plantation, Inc | Fatal | 3 |
| 5 Aug 1989 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 6B | Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 18 Jul 1988 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 | Saltsburg, Pennsylvania, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Oct 1989 | Piper PA-28-161 | Elkader, Iowa, United States | Pritts Aviation | Fatal | 2 |
| 1 Oct 1989 | Stits-Itrich SA6B | Swan, Iowa, United States | Zeck, Wayne M. | No injuries | - |
| 15 Oct 1989 | Cessna P210 | Waterloo, Iowa, United States | Gateway Financial Services, Inc | No injuries | - |
| 22 Oct 1989 | Piper PA-38-112 | Charles City, Iowa, United States | Charles City Aeronautics, Inc | No injuries | - |
| 7 Nov 1989 | Cessna 152 | Toledo, Iowa, United States | Guetzlaff, Robert W. | Minor injuries | - |
| 19 Jul 1989 | McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 | Sioux City, Iowa, United States | United Airlines | Fatal | 111 |