# NTSB CHI84LA216: Balloon Works Barnes Firefly 8-24, N3679A, Burnsville, MN, May 27, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 27, 1984, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Burnsville, MN
- Coordinates: 44.76073, -93.270584 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7607&lon=-93.2706&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 3 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12633
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI84LA216
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12633/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI84LA216

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Miscellaneous/other, standing
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - crew/group coordination - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - balloon equipment,envelope - not dumped (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - procedures/directives - inadequate, ground personnel (cause)

## Analysis

THE BALLOON LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE ENVELOPE WAS BEING DEFLATED WHEN A GUST OF WIND TIPPED THE BASKET. THE PLT SAID HE SAW A YOUNG BOY WITH HIS LEG UNDER THE BASKET. THE PLT LIFTED THE EDGE OF THE BASKET BY STEPPING OUT OF IT TO FREE THE BOY AND THE WIND DRAGGED THE BASKET. THE WIND WAS REPORTED BEING FROM THE NE AT 7 KTS WITH NO REPORTED GUSTS. THE BOYS MOTHER SAID HER SON WAS RECENTLY ALLOWED TO RIDE IN ANOTHER BALLOON AS THE CHASE CREW 'WALKED' THE BALLOON TO THE CHASE VEHICLE. SHE SAID SHE THOUGHT HE WAS HOPING TO GET ANOTHER 'WALK' RIDE. THE BOYS LEG WAS FRACTURED IN THIS INSTANCE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3679A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3679A-2013-08-08), registration cancelled 2013-08-08, S/N F8-015, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALLOON WORKS BARNES FIREFLY 8-24 (BARNES FIR)
- Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 8-24](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-8-24) (registry code 1050107) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: F8015
- Engines: NONE NONE unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Herbert C. Lind, doing business as Skywalkers Unlimited
- Registered owner: Share Development Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 12, 1983, 30 hours before
- Departed: ROSEMONT, MN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; flight hours: 250 total, 250 in this make and model, 233 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Observed at: MSP, 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 19840527019069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840527019069A), May 27, 1984: Balwks FIREFLY824, Burnsville, MN. Basket blown over during balloon deflation. 13 year old boy got his leg under basket. Fractured his leg.

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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