19971010045219A

Accident · Minor damage

FAA accident report · Balwks FIREFLY 11 · Rancho Bernardo, CA · October 10, 1997

Date: October 10, 1997 · 18:22 local
Place: Rancho Bernardo, CA
Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Minor damage
Aircraft: N2585Z
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX98LA005
Reported as: Balwks FIREFLY11
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,866 total69 in this make and model46 in the last 90 days

N2585ZRegistration cancelled Mar 21, 2017 · Balloon Works FIREFLY 11S/N F11-004 · Built 1995 Airframe modelBalloon Works FIREFLY 11 Engine modelNONENone

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

The pilot and 10 passengers departed for a scenic late after noon flight. The takeoff occurred in wind conditions near the FAA demostrated 7 knot maximum speed (for landing). And at a time when local airports reported 10 knots surface winds. For several minutes during the flight the pilot flew in clouds. The passengers reported hearing the sound of an airplane and became concerned. During the flight the wind speed increased. The pilot landed hard n over 12 knots of wind. The basket slid 150 to 180 feet. Rotated 90 degrees, and tumbled end over end ejecting passengers.

As the FAA filed it

THE PILOT AND 10 PASSENGERS DEPARTED FOR A SCENIC LATE AFTER NOON FLIGHT. THE TAKEOFF OCCURRED IN WIND CONDITIONS NEAR THE FAA DEMOSTRATED 7 KNOT MAXIMUM SPEED (FOR LANDING). AND AT A TIME WHEN LOCAL AIRPORTS REPORTED 10 KNOTS SURFACE WINDS. FOR SEVERAL MINUTES DURING THE FLIGHT THE PILOT FLEW IN CLOUDS. THE PASSENGERS REPORTED HEARING THE SOUND OF AN AIRPLANE AND BECAME CONCERNED. DURING THE FLIGHT THE WIND SPEED INCREASED. THE PILOT LANDED HARD N OVER 12 KNOTS OF WIND. THE BASKET SLID 150 TO 180 FEET. ROTATED 90 DEGREES, AND TUMBLED END OVER END EJECTING PASSENGERS.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX98LA005Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRancho Bernardo, CAThe pilot's intentional flight in high wind conditions and his improper in-flight planning.Oct 11, 1997 · Minor damage