# NTSB ATL86LA200: Balloon Works FF-7, N4065K, Pandora, OH, July 6, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 6, 1986, 08:00 local (12:00 UTC)
- Place: Pandora, OH
- Coordinates: 40.939422, -83.960098 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9394&lon=-83.9601&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7151
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL86LA200
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7151/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL86LA200

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)

## Analysis

FOLLOWING A EARLY MORNING BALLOON FLIGHT, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A LANDING IN A CLEARED AREA WITH WINDS AT ABOUT 14 KNOTS. THE PILOT REALIZED THAT THE FIRST ATTEMPT HE WOULD ENCOUNTER POWERLINES AND TREES. THE PILOT CLIMBED OUT AND ATTEMPTED ANOTHER APPROACH TO A CLOVER FIELD ADJACENT TO THE FIRST AREA. DURING THE LANDING THE BASKET TURNED OVER AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE WIND DRAGGED THE BASKET ABOUT 30 FEET FROM THE INITIAL TOUCHDOWN POINT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4065K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4065K), registered now, S/N 10010, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALLOON WORKS FF-7
- Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-7) (registry code 1050100) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 1001D
- Engines: NONE NONE unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Lima Balloon Club
- Last inspection: Annual, February 28, 1986, 21 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; commercial; flight hours: 335 total, 335 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Observed at: FDY, 30 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19860706044529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860706044529A), Jul 6, 1986: Balwks FIREFLY7, Pandora, OH. Made hard landing in a clover field and bounced. Passenger injured. Ground crew reported field not good for landing.

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.

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