# Accident 20160806010759A: Balloon Works FIREFLY 8, Northwoods, NH, August 6, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 6, 2016, 17:45 local time
- Place: Northwoods, NH
- Damage: No damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.2053° N, 71.2294° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2053&lon=-71.2294&mi=10
- Aircraft: N317W, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N317W) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Balloon Works FIREFLY 8 (registry code 1050109, https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-8) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALLOON WORKS FIREFLY 8
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 6
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,850 total, 900 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA16LA284](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA284) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160806010759A

## Narrative

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

PILOT DEPARTED FIELD IN PITTSFIELD NH WITH 5 PASSENGERS. DURING THE LANDING THE BALLOON HIT THE GROUND HARD AND BOUNCED BACK AIRBORNE APPROXIMATELY 5 FT. THE BALLOON THEN LANDED THE SECOND TIME SUBSEQUENTLY TIPPING THE BASKET ON ITS SIDE, AND THEN DRAGGED ACROSS THE FIELD APPROXIMATELY

25 ? 30 YDS. EVENTUALLY COMING TO REST AT THE TREE LINE.

DURING THE LANDING THE PASSENGERS FELL TO THE FLOOR OF THE BASKET AND ONTO EACH OTHER WITH ONE PASSENGER BEING SEVERELY INJURED.

PER AN EYE WITNESS STATEMENT, THE BALLOON WAS IN A FAST DECENT AND THEN AT APPROXIMATELY 25 FEET OFF THE GROUND HE OBSERVED THE PILOT PULLING ON A LINE HANGING FROM THE BALLOON. AT THAT TIME THE TOP OF THE BALLOON APPEARED TO OPEN AND THE BALLOON IMMEDIATELY DROPPED TO THE GROUND. HE OBSERVED THE BALLOON BOUNCE ONCE AND THEN BE DRAGGED BY THE WIND THE END OF THE FIELD.

THE FORECAST WAS FOR HIGH WINDS AND BUILDING THUNDERSTORMS.

## 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 ERA16LA284](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA284), Aug 6, 2016: Balloon Works FIREFLY8 (N317W), Northwood, NH, no damage. Probable cause: The balloon pilot’s inadequate weather planning and improper decision to depart in reported increasing variable winds with nearby thunderstorms, which resulted in a subsequent hard landing and a…

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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