# NTSB BFO93LA118: Balloon Works Firefly 8B, N7113E, Flemington, NJ, July 11, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 10, 1993, 20:20 local (Jul 11, 1993, 00:20 UTC)
- Place: Flemington, NJ
- Location: 40.5086° N, 74.8599° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Flemington, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5086&lon=-74.8599&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 17, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8787
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO93LA118
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8787/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO93LA118

## Probable cause

THE PASSENGER'S INADVERTENT ACTIVATION OF THE BURNER AFTER THE LANDING, CAUSING THE TERRAIN TO BURN AND SUBSEQUENTLY IGNITING THE BALLOON ENVELOPE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, landing
  - terrain condition - grass
  - balloon equipment,burner system - engaged (cause)
  - balloon equipment,envelope - burned

## Analysis

DURING AN UNEVENTFUL 45 MINUTE BALLOON FLIGHT, A LONG DRAG LANDING WAS MADE ONTO A HAY FIELD.  NEAR THE END OF THE DRAG LANDING, THE BALLOON FLATTENED OUT SPREAD ACROSS THE STUBBLE OF THE HAY FIELD.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE PASSENGER INADVERTENTLY ACTIVATED THE BURNER WHILE EXITING THE GONDOLA.  THE FLAMES FROM THE BURNER IGNITED THE STUBBLE UNDERNEATH THE ENVELOPE, SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSING THE ENVELOPE TO BURN.

## Factual narrative

On July 10, 1993, about 2020 hours eastern daylight time, N7113E, a Balloon Works Firefly 8B balloon, registered to Looking Up Advertising Incorporated, North Plainfield, New Jersey, was substantially damaged during landing in Flemington, New Jersey.  The pilot and passenger were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed.  The personal flight departed from Frenchtown, New Jersey, at 1935 hours and was conducted under 14 CFR 91.

According to the pilot;

"A successful 45 minute balloon flight was made. . . . A long drag landing was made on the upward slope of a hay field that was cut and raked with 3 inch stubble in the ground.  The balloon flattened out at the end of [the] drag, laying on top of the stubble.  The passenger crawled out of the gondola and hit the burner, causing the burner to go on, setting the stubble on fire in front of the basket going under the envelope, causing [the envelope] to burn."

No mechanical malfunctions were reported.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7113E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7113E-1999-05-05), registration cancelled 1999-05-05, S/N F8B-119 (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)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: F8B-119
- Airframe hours: 349
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Looking Up Advertising, Inc.
- Registered owner: Looking Up Advertising, Inc,
- Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 1993
- Departed: NONE, FRENCHTOWN, NJ
- Airport: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; commercial; medical: unknown, unknown; flight hours: 828 total, 825 in this make and model, 828 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 330° at 15 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none

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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