Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 N1527B

Summary

On 5 July 1997 at about 01:15 local time, a Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 registered N1527B was involved in an accident near Columbia, Missouri, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 July 1997 at 01:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Columbia, Missouri, United States

Coordinates

39.0191, -92.2994

Aircraft

Balloon Works FIREFLY 7

Registration

N1527B

Category

Balloon

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

CHI97LA207

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's failure to properly judge the landing approach. The proximity of transmission wires was a related factor.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during an approach to land, the descent rate was to fast and that the balloon was not going to clear power lines. He said he '. . . valved to hit at envelope rather than the basket.' The pilot reported that the occupants stayed in the basket until the ground crew confirmed that the envelope had been separated from the power lines. He then, 'noticed several area's of smoldering fire in the envelope, and put out fire with fire extinguishers.' After the accident, the pilot reported that he should have, 'waited longer for wind to go down or for a larger landing area.' About 7 miles west at Columbia, MO, the wind was reported to be from 160 degrees at 6 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.