# Accident 19890831034469A: Balwks FIREFLY8B, Hatboro, PA, August 31, 1989

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 31, 1989, 19:20 local time
- Place: Hatboro, PA
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.1691° N, 75.1001° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1691&lon=-75.1001&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7406F, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7406F-1995-04-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B (registry code 1050110, https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-8b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALWKS FIREFLY8B
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 390 total, 215 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC89LA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89LA212) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890831034469A

## Narrative

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

LOW ON FUEL ON A SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT,STRUCK POWERLINES. ARCING SEVERED BASKET WHICH FELL APPROXIMATELY 35 FEET.

## 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 NYC89LA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89LA212), Aug 31, 1989: Balloon Works Firefly (N7406F), Hatboro, PA, minor damage. Probable cause: IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE OBSTRUCTIONS. A RELATED FACTOR WAS: THE LOW LEVEL OF PROPANE (FUEL), WHICH RESULTED IN LOW BURNER…

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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