Balloon Works FIREFLY X-7 N4055T
7 September 1991 · Altoona, Iowa, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 7 September 1991 at about 12:30 local time, a Balloon Works FIREFLY X-7 registered N4055T, operated by King, Gary D., was involved in an accident near Altoona, Iowa, United States. 3 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 12:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Altoona, Iowa, United States
- Coordinates
- 41.6510, -93.4707
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works FIREFLY X-7
- Registration
- N4055T
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- King, Gary D.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Altoona → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Not recorded
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CHI91LA292
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
WEATHER EVALUATION MISJUDGED AND OVERCONFIDENCE IN PERSONAL ABILITY. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS HIGH WINDS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT SAID THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING A HIGH WIND LANDING, THE GONDOLA HIT THE TERRAIN HARD, AND TIPPED OVER. A PASSENGER SUFFERED A BROKEN ANKLE DURING THE LANDING.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Balloon Works FIREFLY accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jun 1991 | Balloon Works FIREFLY-7B | Greenwood, Missouri, United States | Karmen W. Goosey | Fatal | - |
| 19 Oct 1991 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 | Webster, New Hampshire, United States | Mary ANN Lappies | Fatal | - |
| 26 Nov 1990 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8-24 | Poway, California, United States | Kimberly Lynch | Serious injuries | - |
| 7 Aug 1990 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8 | Napa, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 7 Aug 1990 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 9 | Napa, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 29 Sep 1990 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 9 | Vacaville, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Jun 1991 | Heal SONERAI-I | Davenport, Iowa, United States | R.w. Leonard | Fatal | 1 |
| 11 Aug 1991 | Canadian Car & Foundry HARVARD MARK IV | Ida Grove, Iowa, United States | Mack Stevens ORR | Fatal | 1 |
| 31 Aug 1991 | Tullis TIERRA II | Ottumwa, Iowa, United States | Randy L. Saner | Fatal | 2 |
| 11 May 1991 | Piper J3 | Creston, Iowa, United States | MKI Incorporated | No injuries | - |
| 14 Oct 1991 | Piper PA-46-310P | Sioux Center, Iowa, United States | Interstate Elect. & ENG. Co. | Serious injuries | - |
| 31 May 1991 | Cessna 172E | Grundy Center, Iowa, United States | Robert Willett | No injuries | - |