# Incident 20230903016579I: Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15, Anderson, SC, September 3, 2023

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 3, 2023, 08:57 local time
- Place: Anderson, SC
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.5181° N, 82.6722° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5181&lon=-82.6722&mi=10
- Aircraft: N192HH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N192HH) (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 NONE
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 4,500 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23LA391](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA391) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230903016579I

## Narrative

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

FAA FORM 8020-9:

HOT AIR BALLOON CRASH, UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES.

PILOT STATEMENT:

I TOOK OFF AT 8:45AM WITH ONE CREW PASSENGER FROM A SMALL FIELD APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE WEST OF THE EVENT FIELD IN ANDERSON, SC. WE FLEW EASTERLY AS WEATHER REPORTED AND FLEW OVER THE EVENT FIELD. WE THREW OUT OUR RUBBER DUCK MARKER TO THE FIELD AND CONTINUED EASTERLY IN DIRECTION.  IT HAD BEEN REPORTED THAT THERE WERE GOOD LANDING OPPORTUNITIES IN THAT DIRECTION. I MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO LAND APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT BUT THE WINDS WERE QUITE VARIABLE AND VARY SLOW. THERE WERE MOSTLY TIGHT NEIGHBORHOODS WITH MANY POWER LINES.  AFTER A MISSED APPROACH TO A CULDE SAC DUE TO PARKED CARS THAT WOULD BE VERY CLOSE AND NO LARGE AREAS IN SIGHT I MADE AN APPROCH TO A ROAD INTERSECTION AND DESCENDED AFTER CLEARING THE WIRES ALONG THE ROAD. ON DESCENT THE BALLOON DRIFTED INTO AND CAUGHT UP IN A BRANCH OF SOME TALL TREES. WE STOPPED DESCENDING APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 8 FEET BEFORE TOUCHING DOWN NEXT TO THE ROAD. I BRIEFED THE PASSENGER TO KEEP HER KNEES BENT IN CASE WE CAME DOWN MORE. JUST AFTER BRIEFING HER, THE TREE LIMB GAVE WAY AND THE BASKET LANDED UPRIGHT WITH NO DAMAGE. I ASKED IF SHE WAS GOOD ASSUMING SHE WAS, BUT SHE SAID HER ANKLE HURT. SHE WAS TAKEN BY EMS TO CHECK HER ANKLE AND REPORTED THAT IT WAS A SPRAIN. A BUCKET TRUCK ARRIVED AND REMOVED THE BALLOON FABRIC FROM WHERE IT WAS STILL SNAGGED ON A TREE BRANCH. ONE TEAR IN A SIDE PANEL WAS NOTED ON THE SIDE OF THE BALLOON. PICTURES ARE ENCLOSED.

## 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 ERA23LA391](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA391), Sep 3, 2023: Balloon Works Firefly 7 (N192HH), Anderson, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to avoid trees during the descent for landing, resulting in substantial damage to the balloon.

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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