# Accident 19800321010059A: Balwks FIREFLY7, Tucson, AZ, March 21, 1980

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 21, 1980, 17:15 local time
- Place: Tucson, AZ
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.2217° N, 110.9265° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tucson, AZ, within about 9 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2217&lon=-110.9265&mi=10
- Aircraft: N40708, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40708-1996-06-17) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 (registry code 1050100, https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-7) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALWKS FIREFLY7
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 87 total, 87 in this make and model, 32 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX80DUJ44](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80DUJ44) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800321010059A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

PASSENGER RECEIVED EYE INJURY WHEN STRUCK BY RELEASED TETHER BUCKLE. HE WAS LEANING OVER SIDE OF GONDOLA.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX80DUJ44](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80DUJ44), Mar 21, 1980: BLN Works FF-7 (N40708), Tucson, AZ, no damage

## Other reports on N40708 (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19811008090231A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19811008090231A), Oct 8, 1981: Balwks FIREFLY7 (N40708), Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. Unaware of other balloon. Top of balloon snagged on others gondola. Broke free. Balloon torn, landed hard.
- [Accident 19800330008409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800330008409A), Mar 30, 1980: Balwks FIREFLY7 (N40708), Lake Havasu Cit, CA, Substantial damage. Surface wind increased drastically while airborne. Balloon dragged through water and rough ground landing.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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