# Accident 19960824025849A: Balwks FIREFLY7, Rio Rancho, NM, August 24, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 24, 1996, 08:45 local time
- Place: Rio Rancho, NM
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.2697° N, 106.6591° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2697&lon=-106.6591&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7414U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7414U-2017-02-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 (registry code 1050100, https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-7) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALWKS FIREFLY7
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 184 total, 184 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW96LA361](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA361) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960824025849A

## Narrative

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

FLYING LOW TRIED TOO LATE TO BURN AND CLIMB OVER POWERLINES, SAW ERROR. PULLED VENT. HIT WIRES. LEAKY BAG. (-23) MR. CHARLETON WAS GROUND TRACKING, MISJUDGED POWERLINES, ATTEMPTED TO GO OVER THE POWERLINES, REALIZED HE WAS NOT GOING TO MAKE IT, PULLED THE TOP OUT OF THE BALLOON, HIT THE POWERLINES. HE AND THE PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED.

## 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 FTW96LA361](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA361), Aug 24, 1996: Balloon Works Firefly 7 (N7414U), Rio Rancho, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power lines. The variable wind condition was a related factor.

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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