# NTSB CEN13CA278: Balloon Works Firefly 8B-15, N3171L, Anthony, KS, May 11, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 11, 2013, 06:00 local (11:00 UTC) - Place: Anthony, KS - Coordinates: 37.158611, -98.079719 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1586&lon=-98.0797&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 29, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 86900 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA278 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86900/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86900 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA278 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to monitor the balloon's altitude, which resulted in the balloon impacting an airport rotating beacon tower. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=1050111), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=1050111), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1050111), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=1050111), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The balloon had just taken off from the airport as part of a balloon rally. The pilot said that the balloon was about 150 to 200 feet above the ground and that he was checking his flight instruments when the balloon encountered a “false lift condition” and settled on top of the rotating beacon tower on the airport. The balloon envelope was torn open, deflating the envelope, and the basket settled on the ground. A postaccident examination of the balloon showed substantial damage to the top one-third of the envelope's fabric and load tapes. No preaccident anomalies were found that would have precluded normal operation of the balloon. ## Factual narrative The balloon had just taken off from the airport as part of a balloon rally. The pilot said that he was about 150 to 200 feet above the ground and was checking his flight instruments when the balloon encountered a false lift condition and it settled on top of the rotating beacon tower on the airport. The balloon envelope was torn open deflating the envelope and the basket settled on the ground. The pilot and the 2 passengers on board exited the basket unharmed. A postaccident examination of the balloon showed substantial damage to the top one-third of the envelope's fabric and load tapes. No other anomalies were found that would have precluded normal operation of the balloon. Weather conditions in the area at the time of the accident were winds out of the west at 6 knots, scattered clouds at 4,700 feet and 10 statute miles visibility. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3171L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3171L), registered now, S/N F8B-493, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BALLOON WORKS FIREFLY 8B-15 - Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-8b-15) (registry code 1050111) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: F8B-493 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Balloonport Of Oklahoma Inc - Registered owner: Balloonport Of Oklahoma Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: ANY, Anthony, KS - Destination: ANY, Anthony, KS - Airport: ANY, Anthony Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; commercial; medical: unknown; seat: front; flight hours: 415 total, 1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: AVA, 43 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 20130511010559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130511010559A), May 11, 2013: Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15, Anthony, KS, Substantial damage. The Balloon with the pilot and two passengers lifted off and obtained an altitude of approximately 200 feet. The pilot was in the process of setting the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 14, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86900. 428 KB in all. - Memorandums of Conversation (item 1, .PDF, 368 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394359&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandums%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Metar Alva, Oklahoma (item 2, .PDF, 22 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394360&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Metar%20Alva,%20Oklahoma-Master.PDF - Description of False Lift (item 3, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394361&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Description%20of%20False%20Lift-Master.PDF 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. --- 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.