# NTSB CHI81DEV17: Balloon WKS 7B, N15443, Normal, IL, May 2, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 2, 1981
- Place: Normal, IL · NORMAL, IL
- Location: 40.5201° N, 88.9922° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Normal, IL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5201&lon=-88.9922&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126044
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI81DEV17
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81DEV17

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0944   81/5/2    NORMAL,IL           BALLOON WKS 7B      CR-  0  0  2  INSTRUCTIONAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 28, 272
        TIME - 1745                    N15443              PX-  0  0  0  DUAL                      TOTAL HOURS, 58 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          NORMAL,IL                   LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           WEATHER - SUDDEN WINDSHIFT
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      62
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          150                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- UN TO STOP DSCNT.AFTER IMPACT W GND,WND SHIFTED & BLEW BLN INTO FENCE & PWR LN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N15443](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N15443-1999-10-27), registration cancelled 1999-10-27, S/N 10267 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALLOON WKS 7B
- Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-B](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-7-b) (registry code 10501A9) (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 19810502022439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810502022439A), May 2, 1981: Balwks FIREFLY7B, Normal, IL, Substantial damage. Balloon made rapid descent and hard landing, then drifted into powerlines. Possible wind shear or downdraft.

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.