# NTSB CHI08CA017: Balloon Works Firefly 7, N7408G, East Hampstead, NH, October 15, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 15, 2007, 08:45 local (12:45 UTC) - Place: East Hampstead, NH - Coordinates: 42.8908333333333, -71.1280555555555 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8908&lon=-71.1281&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious, 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Portland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 66959 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08CA017 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66959/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA017 ## Probable cause The pilot's excessive descent rate on approach, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing factors were the adverse winds encountered during the flight, and the presence of the trees and power lines near the landing area. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - Hard landing, landing - proper descent rate - exceeded, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) ## Analysis The balloon impacted trees and terrain during a hard landing. Two passengers sustained serious injuries, and one passenger sustained minor injuries. The remaining passenger and the pilot were not injured. The pilot reported that the flight departed with three other balloons in light winds. He noted the wind was forecast to increase about one hour after the flight was scheduled to land. However, about halfway through the flight, the wind increased to approximately 11 miles-per-hour, with some gusts. He elected to land when he noticed the increase in the wind speed. He executed three approaches, each time electing to go-around due to adverse winds. On the accident approach, he intentionally brushed the top of a tree in order to slow the balloon. He briefed the passengers for a hard landing and descended toward an open field. After the initial impact, the basket became airborne again briefly before coming to rest. The pilot stated that he did not use the burner to reduce the descent rate due to the possibility of drifting past the selected landing area and striking power lines adjacent to the field. ## Factual narrative The balloon impacted trees and terrain during a hard landing. Two passengers sustained serious injuries, and one passenger sustained minor injuries. The remaining passenger and the pilot were not injured. The pilot reported that the flight departed with three other balloons in light winds. He noted the wind was forecast to increase about one hour after the flight was scheduled to land. However, about halfway through the flight, the wind increased to approximately 11 miles-per-hour, with some gusts. He elected to land when he noticed the increase in the wind speed. He executed three approaches, each time electing to go-around due to adverse winds. On the accident approach, he intentionally brushed the top of a tree in order to slow the balloon. He briefed the passengers for a hard landing and descended toward an open field. After the initial impact, the basket became airborne again briefly before coming to rest. The pilot stated that he did not use the burner to reduce the descent rate due to the possibility of drifting past the selected landing area and striking power lines adjacent to the field. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7408G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7408G), registered now, S/N F7-278 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Balloon Works Firefly 7 - Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-7) (registry code 1050100) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: F7-278 - Airframe hours: 51.6 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2007 - Departed: PVT, Derry, NH - Destination: PVT, Hampstead, NH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial; last flight review July 1, 2007; flight hours: 197 total, 197 in this make and model, 172 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: MHT, 10 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 20071015829919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071015829919A), Oct 15, 2007: Balwks FIREFLY7, Hampstead, NH, No damage. (-23) N7408G, hot air balloon, was traveling over Hampstead, NH when winds became gusty. Pilot decided to land in a field for precautionary reasons. Balloon… 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.