# Accident 20041009024119A: Balwks FIREFLY8B15, Piedmont, OK, October 9, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 9, 2004, 09:20 local time
- Place: Piedmont, OK
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.5339° N, 97.6469° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5339&lon=-97.6469&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2563W, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2563W-2018-01-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15 (registry code 1050111, https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-8b-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALWKS FIREFLY8B15
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 65 total, 50 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DFW05CA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05CA002) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041009024119A

## Narrative

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

(-23) FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT 0900 FROM A PRIVATE SW OF PIEDMONT, OK. APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, LOWERING CLOUDS AND FOG REDUCED VISIBILITY SUFFICIENTLY THAT THE PILOT DESCENDED TO TREE TOP LEVEL TO FIND A LANDING AREA. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF A WHEAT FIELD THE BALLOON SKIPPED TWICE. THE PILOT SAW POWER LINES AHEAD OF HIM SO HE DEFLATED THE ENVELOPE COMPLETELY. THE ENVELOPE DRAPED OVER THE POWERLINES AND CAUGHT FIRE.

## 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 DFW05CA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05CA002), Oct 9, 2004: Balloon Works Firefly 8B-15 (N2563W), Piedmont, OK, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with power lines while landing. Contributing factors were the reduced visibility, fog, and low cloud ceiling.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.