# NTSB investigations: Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-B NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports. ## Latest cases - [NTSB FTW98LA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA231.md): Balloon Works Firefly 7-B · Longmont, CO · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 17, 1998 · N1527M · No damage > The pilot's failure to properly position his foot for a high wind landing. Factors were high winds and windshear. - [NTSB ATL94LA098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA098.md): Balloon Works Firefly 7-B · Burlington, NC · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 13, 1994 · N1511M · Substantial damage > Inadvertent burner control interference by the passenger. A factor was the presence of electric transmission wires at the forced landing site. - [NTSB CHI91LA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91LA183.md): Balloon Works FIREFLY-7B · Greenwood, MO · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 9, 1991 · N3605G · Minor damage > The inadequate briefing to the ground crew by the pilot, because the ground crewman did not understand the intent and objectives of the maneuver. - [NTSB LAX90LA343](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90LA343.md): Balloon Works Firefly 7B · Moorpark, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 17, 1990 · N1523C · No damage > The pilot's failure to arrest descent for landing. - [NTSB ATL90LA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL90LA104.md): Balloon Works 7B · Lexington, KY · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 22, 1990 · N1512T · Substantial damage > The overload failure of several jumper cords. Factor(s) were inadvertent encounter with unfavorable wind (dust devil). Subsequently, the pilot was unable to control the rate of descent. - [NTSB DEN88LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88LA004.md): Balloon Works Firefly 7-B · Rio Rancho, NM · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 5, 1987 · N15260 · Substantial damage > The plt rptd that she had vented the Balloon to land. She said it takes both of her hands to open the vent and hold it open. 'When the Balloon hit the ground the burner went on by itself, wide open. The envelope was swinging from the contact of the basket… - [NTSB FTW87LA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87LA073.md): Balloon Works Firefly 7-B · Broken Arrow, OK · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 5, 1987 · N15253 · Substantial damage > The Balloon drifted into power lines just after liftoff. The pilot stated he was hooking up a new temperature gauge and did not notice that the Balloon was descending. - [NTSB MKC86FA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC86FA117.md): Balloon Works Firefly 7-B · Lee'S Summit, MO · Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report · May 25, 1986 · N15369 · Substantial damage > The PIC stated that prior to liftoff, the Balloon was gyrating and instructed the gnd crew member to steady the Balloon by holding the rope. Just as the Balloon became steady the PIC initiated his takeoff. The PIC was aware of turbulence in the takeoff site… - [NTSB MIA85FA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85FA143.md): Balloon Works Firefly 7B · Orlando, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 7, 1985 · N36938 · Destroyed > The Balloon was destroyed by an explosion and subsequent fire during touchdown in an open fld. The plt and witnesses stated the gondola touched down with a 'jolt' and tilted in the direction of travel. Shortly thereafter, a popping noise was heard followed by… - [NTSB CHI84LA244](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI84LA244.md): Barnes AX-7B · Lake Orion, MI · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 16, 1984 · N37643 · No damage > A 74 year old passenger in a balloon lost her footing during landing and fell on her arm. Later examination revealed that her arm was broken. The plt and another passenger were not injured. The plt reported that the passengers had been briefed on landing and… - [NTSB MKC83LA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC83LA053.md): Balloon Works Fire FLY 7-B · Greenwood, MO · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 8, 1983 · N1510D · Substantial damage > The student plt/owner was being instructed by a free Balloon plt with a commercial certificate. According to the commercial plt, the Balloon had been inflated, but the air was still not hot enough for flt, and the wind blowing over the envelope created a… - [NTSB MKC83LA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC83LA051.md): Balloon Works Firefly 7B · Indianola, IA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 2, 1983 · N1511Y · No damage > The pilot elected to make a touch and go landing in wind that was from 010 deg at 7, gusting 9 KTS. During touchdown, the basket was drifting and tilted over sideways. The passenger weithed 290 lbs and was unable to maintain his balance. When the basket… - [NTSB FTW82DQG17](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82DQG17.md): Balloon Works 7-B · Masterson, TX · Accident · Serious injuries · Final report · Apr 3, 1982 · N1524U · Minor damage > After making weather observations and obtaining a weather briefing, the instructor pilot (ip) briefed the chase crew of the expected northerly track. The ip and student took off at 0705 CST and ascended to 1200 to 15000 ft AGL and began tracking… - [NTSB CHI81FEK31](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FEK31.md): BLN Works FF-7B · Johnstown, OH · Accident · No injuries · Closed · Sep 27, 1981 · N1517P · Substantial damage - [NTSB CHI81DEV17](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81DEV17.md): Balloon WKS 7B · Normal, IL · Accident · No injuries · Closed · May 2, 1981 · N15443 · Substantial damage ## The whole list in SQL Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS: ```sql SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1 WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('10501A9')) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC ``` This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb?model=10501A9 --- 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.