# Accident 19800420010779A: Balwks FIREFLY7, Hurricane, WV, April 20, 1980

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 20, 1980, 11:40 local time
- Place: Hurricane, WV
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.4323° N, 82.0167° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Hurricane, WV, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4323&lon=-82.0167&mi=10
- Aircraft: N40452, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40452-2012-11-15) (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
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 13 total, 13 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD80FA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD80FA039) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800420010779A

## Narrative

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

FLEW BALLOON WITH KNOWN FABRIC DAMAGE & FAULTY REPAIRS INTO MOUNTAIN TERRAIN WITH GUSTY WIND. FABRIC FAILED.

## 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 IAD80FA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD80FA039), Apr 20, 1980: Balloon WKS AX-7 (N40452), Hurricane, WV, substantial damage, 3 fatal

## Other reports on N40452 (1)

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

- [Accident 19790818025569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790818025569A), Aug 18, 1979: Balwks FIREFLY7 (N40452), Eagles Nest, WV. Pulled rip panel near ground,landing in high wind. Hit hard. Basket flipped over. Pilot received broken leg.

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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