# Incident 19960819028019I: Balwks FIREFLY11, Auburn, ME, August 19, 1996

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 19, 1996, 18:50 local time
- Place: Auburn, ME
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.0979° N, 70.2312° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Auburn, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0979&lon=-70.2312&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6230V (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BALWKS FIREFLY11
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 17 total, 17 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960819028019I

## Narrative

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

NARRATIVE: NE COMM. CENTER NOTIFIED THIS INSPECTOR AT APPROXIMATELY 1935 ON 08-19-96, BY TELEPHONE CALL AT HOME (PWM) RESIDENCE. CONFERENCE CALL THEN SET UP WITH AUBURN POLICE DEPARTMENT. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE BALLOON WAS PACKED UP AND DEPARTED THE SCENE AND THE REPORT WOULD BE FAXED TO THE PWM FSDO ON 08-20-96. SHORTLY AFTER LIFT-OFF FROM AN AREA NEAR GREAT FALLS PLAZA (GREAT FALLS AND TURNER STREETS), THE BALLOON CONTACTED A LIGHT FIXTURE/POLE, CAUSING A 4' (FOOT) TEAR IN THE ENVELOPE BELOW THE EQUATOR. THE PILOT CONTINUED TO ASCEND IN ORDER TO LAND AT A MORE SUITABLE LANDING AREA. THE PILOT EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD NEAR 735, GARFIELD ROAD. THE BALLOON WAS THEN DEFLATED, FOLDED UP LAND LOADED BY THE "CHASE CREW" AND OTHER PERSONNEL. THE AUBURN POLICE REPORT INDICATES MORE THAN ONE OFFICER ON SCENE WITH INFORMATION AND UNITED AMBULANCE SERVICE. INJURIES LISTED REQUIRED NO SERVICES. MR. POULIN RECEIVED HIS PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE ON 08-14-96. MR. TOM HANCOCK, A HOT AIR BALLOON EXAMINER VERIFIED THIS PER A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION ON 08-20-96. INCIDENT REPORT COMPLETED 08-20-96.

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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