# Accident 19990523021549A: Balwks FIREFLY7, Gasburg, VA, May 23, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 23, 1999, 08:10 local time
- Place: Gasburg, VA
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.5600° N, 77.8902° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5600&lon=-77.8902&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9070T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9070T-2018-03-13) (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: 830 total, 338 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC99LA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA118) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990523021549A

## Narrative

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

ON MAY 23, 1999, ABOUT 0710 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A BALLOON WORKS, FIREFLY-7, N9070T, WAS NOT DAMAGED WHILE LANDING IN A FIELD NEAR GASBURG, VIRGINIA. THE CERTIFICATED PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED.  A SECOND PASSENGER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE LOCAL FLIGHT CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91.  THE PILOT STATED IN A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW THAT HE WAS A PARTICIPANT IN A BALLOON RACE.  THE BALLOON LAUNCHED UNDER LIGHT WIND CONDITIONS, ABOUT 0700.  AS THE BALLOON WAS APPROACHING THE FIRST STEERAGE, THE WIND BEGAN TO INCREASE IN VELOCITY AND SUDDEN HORIZONTAL WIND-SHEARS WERE ENCOUNTERED.  THE PILOT DECIDED TO ABORT THE RACE, AND LAND IN A FIELD LOCATED AHEAD OF THE BALLOON.  SEVERAL OTHER BALLOONS HAD USED THE FIELD TO LAND, DUE TO ENCOUNTERING THE SAME TYPE OF WINDS.  THE BALLOON NEARED THE GROUND, AT A SPEED OF APPROX. 15 KNOTS, AND STARTED TO COLLAPSE FROM THE HORIZONTAL WIND-SHEARS.  THE BASKET TOUCHED DOWN, DRAGGED ALONG THE GROUND, STRUCK A LARGE HAY BALL, AND ROLLED OVER. AFTER THE IMPACT WITH THE HAY BAIL, THE BALLOON COLLAPSED COMPLETELY TO THE GROUND.  AN AIRPORT LOCATED 10 MILES TO THE NORTH- WEST, REPORTED CLEAR SKIES, WINDS FROM 210 DEGREES AT 6 KNOTS. (.4)THE HOT AIR BALLOON LAUNCHED UNDER LIGHT WIND CONDITIONS. AS THE BALLOON WAS APPROACHING THE FIRST STEERAGE, AT ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE PILOT HAD TO CLIMB THE BALLOON TO 300 FEET TO COMPLETE THE TURN. DURING THE CLIMB, A WINDSHEAR FLATTENED OUT ONE SIDE OF THE BALLOON, RE-INFLATING A MOMENT LATER, VIOLENTLY SHAKING THE ENTIRE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT DECIDED TO ABORT THE FLIGHT. A HAY FIELD WAS SPOTTED ABOUT 4 MILES AHEAD OF THE BALLOON. AS THE BALLOON NEARED THE GROUND, THE WINDS CONTINUED TO BLOW, AND THE BASKET COLLIDED WITH A HAY BAIL, AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 15 KNOTS. AFTER IMPACTING THE HAY BAIL, THE BASKET TOUCHED DOWN, DRAGGED ALONG THE GROUND, AND ROLLED OVER. THE BALLOON THEN COLLAPSED COMPLETELY TO THE GROUND.

## 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 NYC99LA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA118), May 23, 1999: Balloon Works FIREFLY-7 (N9070T), Gasburg, VA, no damage. Probable cause: The unforecast high winds that required the pilot in command to make a precautionary landing.

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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