# NTSB ATL87LA200: Balloon Works Firefly 8B, N7420U, Greenville, SC, July 3, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 3, 1987, 08:00 local (12:00 UTC)
- Place: Greenville, SC
- Location: 34.8369° N, 82.3630° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Greenville, SC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8369&lon=-82.3630&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 8, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7474
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL87LA200
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7474/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87LA200

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - object - wire,static
  - visual lookout - reduced, pilot in command (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - wind information - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
- Hard landing, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

BALLOON DTPTED LAUNCH SITE ABOUT SIX MILES SW OF LANDING AIRPORT FOR A KEY GRAB DURING A BALLOON RALLEY. WIND WAS ABOUT SEVEN KTS ACCORDING TO PIC. APPROACHING FIELD TO LAND BASKET WAS DRAGGED THROUGH TREE TOPS TO SLOW BALLOON. POWER LINE HIDDEN BY THE TREES WAS STRUCK AND SEPARATED BY BASKET. BALLOON TOUCHED DOWN HARD WHICH RESULTED IN ONE PAX FALLING ONTO 2ND PAX BREAKING HER LOWER LEG.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7420U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7420U-2018-01-26), registration cancelled 2018-01-26, S/N F8B-078 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALLOON WORKS FIREFLY 8B
- Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-8b) (registry code 1050110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: F8B078
- Airframe hours: 1
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: David L.Woods,Jr.
- Registered owner: Woods, David L.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: GREENVILLE, SC
- Airport: 7A1, Donaldson Center

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; commercial; medical: unknown, unknown; flight hours: 457 total, 7 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Day
- Wind: 200° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GSP, 12 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 19870703034229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870703034229A), Jul 3, 1987: Balwks FIREFLY8B, Greenville, SC. A passenger was injured when the ballon hit a wire and landed hard. The winds were above the balloons launch limit.

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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