# Accident 20130511010559A: Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15, Anthony, KS, May 11, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 11, 2013, 07:00 local time
- Place: Anthony, KS
- Airport: Anthony Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.1586° N, 98.0797° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1586&lon=-98.0797&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3171L, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3171L) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15 (registry code 1050111, https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-8b-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALLOON WORKS FIREFLY 8B-15
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 415 total, 5 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN13CA278](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA278) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130511010559A

## Narrative

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

THE BALLOON WITH THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS LIFTED OFF AND OBTAINED AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET.  THE PILOT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF SETTING THE INSTRUMENTS IN THE AIRCRAFT AND ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO SETTLE. THE BALLOON EXPERIENCED UNCONTROLLED LIFT AND THE WIND DIRECTION CHANGED SLIGHTLY AS THE BALLOON ASSENDED. THE TEMPERATURE WAS COOL WHICH ALLOWED THE ENVELOPE TEMPERATURE TO COOL QUICKER THAN THE PILOT ANTICIPATED IT WOULD.  THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS NOT IN COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND LOST SITUATIONAL AWARENESS THUS ALLOWING THE BALLOON TO SETTLE TO THE GROUND.  THE BASKET WAS SITTING ON THE GROUND AND THE ENVELOPE DRAPED OVER THE AIRPORT BEACON TOWER AT THE ANTHONY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, ANTHONY, KS CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE ENVELOPE.  NEITHER THE PILOT NOR THE PASSENGERS WERE INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT.  THE ENVELOPE WAS FURTHER DAMAGED IN THE PROCESS OF REMOVING IT FROM THE TOWER.

## 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 CEN13CA278](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA278), May 11, 2013: Balloon Works Firefly 8B-15 (N3171L), Anthony, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to monitor the balloon's altitude, which resulted in the balloon impacting an airport rotating beacon tower.

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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