# NTSB CHI81FA089: Balloon WKS 8-24, N4062Z, Barrington, IL, August 15, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 15, 1981
- Place: Barrington, IL · BARRINGTON, IL
- Location: 42.1515° N, 88.1285° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Barrington, IL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1515&lon=-88.1285&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 8, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124175
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI81FA089
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FA089

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2931  81/8/15    BARRINGTON,IL       BALLOON WKS 8-24    CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 26, 774
        TIME - 1840                    N4062Z              PX-  4  1  0  OTHER                     TOTAL HOURS, 300 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          FOX RIVER GROVE,IL          BARRINGTON,IL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               LANDING: GO-AROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           WEATHER - SUDDEN WINDSHIFT
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING OFF AIRPORT
                                  ADVERSE/UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                 3500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      79
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- PAX STATED PLT ATMPTD LNDG SHORT PWRLNS,ABTD,TURNED ON BURNER TO CLIMB,HIT WIRES.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4062Z (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BALLOON WKS 8-24
- Category: Balloon
- Engines: none
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19810815049849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810815049849A), Aug 15, 1981: Balwks FIREFLY824, Barrington Hill, IL, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Departed in threatening weather. Failed to climb. Windshift and gust drove balloon into powerline. Burned in air.

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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