# Accident 19870712038181A: Balwks FIREFLY7, Springfield, MI, July 12, 1987

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 12, 1987, 08:00 local time
- Place: Springfield, MI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Collision: Midair collision, first aircraft
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.2910° N, 85.2201° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2910&lon=-85.2201&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1505F, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1505F-2017-05-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Balloon Works FIREFLY 6 (registry code 1050101, https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-6) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALWKS FIREFLY7
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 790 total, 469 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI87LA167](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI87LA167) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870712038181A

## Narrative

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

HIGH CLIMB RATE. COLLIDED WITH BASKET OF A HIGHER BALLOON N40363. IMPACT RIPPED THE ENVELOPE. FELL TO THE GROUND.

## Other aircraft in the event

- N40363, Raven S55A: [Accident 19870712038182A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870712038182A)

## 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 CHI87LA167](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI87LA167), Jul 12, 1987: Balloon Works Firefly 7 (N1505F), Springfield, MI, substantial damage

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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