# Accident 19890808029949A: Balwks FIREFLY7, Indianola, IA, August 8, 1989

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 8, 1989, 08:00 local time
- Place: Indianola, IA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.3601° N, 93.5606° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3601&lon=-93.5606&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2210H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2210H-1990-08-13) (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: 39 total, 37 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MKC89LA175](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC89LA175) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890808029949A

## Narrative

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

ENCOUNTERED WINDSHEAR ON ASCENT THAT CARRIED BALLOON INTO COLLISION WITH A CABLE TV TOWER. GONDOLA FELL TO GROUND.

## 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 MKC89LA175](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC89LA175), Aug 8, 1989: Balloon Works FIREFLY-7 (N2210H), Indianola, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE TV TOWER DUE TO IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION. UNFAVORABLE WIND/WINDSHEAR AND THE TALL TOWER WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.