# Accident 19980517021179A: Balwks FIREFLY7B, Longmont, CO, May 17, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 17, 1998, 08:30 local time
- Place: Longmont, CO
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.1696° N, 105.1095° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1696&lon=-105.1095&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1527M, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1527M-2012-08-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-B (registry code 10501A9, https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-7-b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALWKS FIREFLY7B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 61 total, 49 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98LA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA231) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980517021179A

## Narrative

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

HIGH WIND LANDING. PILOTS FOOT WAS CAUGHT IN WICKER SIDING. RECEIVED A BROKEN ANKLE. (.4)DURING THE LANDING APPROACH, THE WINDS WERE FROM THE SOUTH AT 5 TO 7 KNOTS.  AT 30 TO 40 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED WIND SHEAR OUT OF THE EAST AT 30 TO 35 KNOTS, AND THE INTENDED LANDING WAS ABORTED.  THE PILOT CLIMBED TO 150 AGL AND SET UP FOR A HIGH WIND LANDING.  UPON TOUCHDOWN, THE PILOT'S FOOT WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN THE WICKER SIDING AND THE SOLID FLOOR OF THE BASKET, AND THE PILOT'S ANKLE WAS BROKEN.  ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE ACCIDENT WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED HAD HE NOT IMPROPERLY PLACED HIS FOOT BETWEEN THE WICKET BASKET AND THE FLOOR PLATE OF THE BALLOON AT THE TIME THE BALLOON IMPACTED THE GROUND.                                          (-23)ON MAY 17, 1998, APPROXIMATELY 0830 MDT, A BALLOON WORKS FIREFLY 7-B BALLOON, N1527M, WAS NOT DAMAGED DURING LANDING IN LONGMONT, COLORADO.  THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURIED AND HIS PASSENGER WAS UNINJURED.  WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE GUSTY SURFACE WINDS AND THEREFORE SET UP FOR A HIGN LANDING.  WHEN THE BALLOON LANDED, THE PIL                                                                 OT'S FOOT WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN THE WICKER SIDING AND THE SOLID FLOOR OF THE BASKET, CAUSING THE PRIVATE PILOT TO SUFFER A BROKEN ANKLE.

## 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 FTW98LA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA231), May 17, 1998: Balloon Works Firefly 7-B (N1527M), Longmont, CO, no damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to properly position his foot for a high wind landing. Factors were high winds and windshear.

## Other reports on N1527M (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20010527011459I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010527011459I), May 27, 2001: Balwks FIREFLY7B (N1527M), Louisville, CO, Minor damage. (-23)Pilot checked before flight and monitored jefferson county ATIS during flight. Unforcast winds came up and during landing hit tree. Minor damage to…

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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