# NTSB CHI78DEC53: Balloon WKS 7, N2027F, Northville, MI, September 4, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 4, 1978
- Place: Northville, MI · NORTHVILLE, MI
- Location: 42.4362° N, 83.4877° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Northville, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4362&lon=-83.4877&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 11, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139387
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI78DEC53
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI78DEC53

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3399   78/9/4    NORTHVILLE,MI       BALLOON WKS 7       CR-  0  0  1  INSTRUCTIONAL             STUDENT, AGE 24, 10 TOTAL
        TIME - 0945                    N2027F              PX-  0  0  0  SOLO                      HOURS, ALL IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          UNION LAKE,MI               NORTHVILLE,MI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SUNGLARE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- FIRE CAUSED BY SPARKING ELECTRICAL WIRES.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2027F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2027F-2014-09-10), registration cancelled 2014-09-10, S/N 733, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALLOON WKS 7
- Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-7) (registry code 1050100) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Engines: none
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19780904026049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780904026049A), Sep 4, 1978: Balwks FIREFLY7, Northville,Mi, MI, Substantial damage. Fire caused by sparking electrical wires.

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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