Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 N192HH

Summary

On 3 September 2023 at about 13:30 local time, a Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 registered N192HH was involved in an accident near Anderson, South Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 September 2023 at 13:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Anderson, South Carolina, United States

Coordinates

34.5181, -82.6722

Aircraft

Balloon Works FIREFLY 7

Registration

N192HH

Category

Balloon

Year built

1992

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA23LA391

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to avoid trees during the descent for landing, resulting in substantial damage to the balloon.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the balloon reported that before the flight, the reported wind direction called for a favorable path with many available landing areas; however, during the flight the wind shifted and the balloon traveled over congested living areas and neighborhoods. As he was looking for a place to land the wind was light and variable. He attempted an approach to a cul-de-sac; however, spectators were parked there, preventing a landing. He aborted the approach and tried another to a corner field. That approach was also aborted due to powerlines in the vicinity. He attempted another approach to a “small area” and the balloon’s envelope caught tree limbs during the descent. After becoming briefly suspended in the tree branches about 5 to 8 feet above the ground, the branches broke and balloon basket dropped to the ground. The passenger sustained a minor injury, the pilot was not injured. Postaccident examination of the balloon revealed substantial damage to several fabric panels and two suspension cables. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.