- Date
- July 12, 1987, 08:00 local (12:00 UTC)
- Place
- Springfield, MI
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 8, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA reports
- 19870712038181A19870712038182A
- Case key
- 13792
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Two hot air balloons were involved in a midair collision during a sanctioned balloon competition. N40363 was able to retain control and landed uneventfully. N1505F partially deflated and descended out of control to the ground. Witnesses stated that N40363 was the higher of the two balloons and appeared to be descending. N1505F was rising and moving over the ground at a faster rate. The gondola of N40363 contacted the envelope of N1505F and ripped a portion of the fabric. The pilot/passenger of N1505F reported that the pilot, upon contact with N40363, pulled the emergency rip panel, turned off the propane, and began to prepare for a hard landing. Both pilots claimed the other pilot had violated contest guidelines.
Two hot air balloons were involved in a midair collision during a sanctioned balloon competition. N40363 was able to retain control and landed uneventfully. N1505F partially deflated and descended out of control to the ground. Witnesses stated that N40363 was the higher of the two balloons and appeared to be descending. N1505F was rising and moving over the ground at a faster rate. The gondola of N40363 contacted the envelope of N1505F and ripped a portion of the fabric. The pilot/passenger of N1505F reported that the pilot, upon contact with N40363, pulled the emergency rip panel, turned off the propane, and began to prepare for a hard landing. Both pilots claimed the other pilot had violated contest guidelines.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N1505F
- Reported as
- Balloon Works Firefly 7
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- 11150
- Airframe hours
- 116
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Peggy Ogland
- Departed
- BTL · Battle Creek, MI
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
- Registration
- N40363
- Reported as
- Raven S55A
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- S-55A-851
- Airframe hours
- 3,049
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- David Pasch
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 10, 1987 · 207 hours before
- Departed
- BTL · Battle Creek, MI
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N1505F
- Age
- 26
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Expired
- Flight hours
- 790 total · 469 in this make and model · 725 as pilot in command · 6 in the last 90 days
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N40363
- Certificate
- Private
- Medical
- Unknown
- Flight hours
- 307 total · 307 in this make and model · 15 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BTL, 2 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.