20030225002879A

Accident

FAA accident report · Balwks FIREFLY 11B · Yountville, CA · February 25, 2003

Date: February 25, 2003 · 07:45 local
Place: Yountville, CA
Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Aircraft: N1501H
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX03LA097
Reported as: Balwks FIREFLY11B
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1

N1501HRegistration cancelled Jan 14, 2014 · Firefly Balloons FIREFLY 11BS/N F11B-2001 · Built 2001 Airframe modelFirefly Balloons FIREFLY 11B 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.

(-23) During ground handling in preparation for "tethered" operations the balloon became airborne with one individual still holding on. The balloon ascended to an altitude between 200' & 500' AGL where the individual let go and fell to the ground.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) DURING GROUND HANDLING IN PREPARATION FOR "TETHERED" OPERATIONS THE BALLOON BECAME AIRBORNE WITH ONE INDIVIDUAL STILL HOLDING ON. THE BALLOON ASCENDED TO AN ALTITUDE BETWEEN 200' & 500' AGL WHERE THE INDIVIDUAL LET GO AND FELL TO THE GROUND.

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 LAX03LA097Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportYountville, CAA bystander was impaired by drugs and did not follow the pilot's directive to release the balloon as it began its ascent.Feb 25, 2003 · No damage