# Accident 20120505007689A: Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15, Hallsville, MO, May 5, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 5, 2012, 19:30 local time
- Place: Hallsville, MO
- Airport: N/A
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.1856° N, 92.4628° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1856&lon=-92.4628&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9079S, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9079S-2012-06-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15 (registry code 1050118, https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-7-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALLOON WORKS FIREFLY 7-15
- Reported engine: NONE
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 50 total, 50 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12CA279](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA279) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120505007689A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE SAW THE ELECTRIC POWER POLE AND WIRES DURING HIS APPROACH TO THE CHOSEN LANDING SITE AND THOUGHT HE HAD A GOOD ANGLE OF DESCENT THAT WOULD CLEAR THEM.  HOWEVER, AS HE CAME WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 50 TO 100 FEET OF THE GROUND, THE WIND WENT CALM.  THE ANGLE OF DESCENT THEN CHANGED, AND THE BALLOON DESCENDED STRAIGHT DOWN INTO THE WIRES.  THE BASKET CLEARED, AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT OR INJURY; HOWEVER, THE BALLOON ENVELOPE GOT HUNG UP IN THE WIRES, CAUGHT FIRE, AND BURNED.

## 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 CEN12CA279](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA279), May 6, 2012: Balloon Works Firefly 7-15 (N9079S), Hallsville, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during 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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