# Accident 19880718027149A: Balwks FIREFLY7, Saltsburg, PA, July 18, 1988

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 18, 1988, 19:30 local time
- Place: Saltsburg, PA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.4808° N, 79.4405° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4808&lon=-79.4405&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1534W, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1534W-2014-09-08) (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: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 885 total, 270 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC88LA189](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88LA189) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880718027149A

## Narrative

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

UNFORECAST WIND AND TURBULENCE CAUSED BALLOON PANELS TO RIP OFF AND AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT INTO TREES.

## 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 NYC88LA189](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88LA189), Jul 18, 1988: Balloon Works Firefly 7 (N1534W), Saltsburg, PA, 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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