# NTSB CHI87LA167: Balloon Works Firefly 7, N1505F, Springfield, MI, July 12, 1987 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 12, 1987, 08:00 local (12:00 UTC) - Place: Springfield, MI - Coordinates: 42.290969, -85.220123 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2910&lon=-85.2201&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 8, 1989 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 13792 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI87LA167 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13792/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI87LA167 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, maneuvering - visual separation - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - visual separation - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Hard landing, descent - uncontrolled - balloon equipment,envelope - failure,partial - Midair collision, maneuvering - visual separation - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - visual separation - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) 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. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) 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 1 - Registration: [N1505F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1505F-2017-05-15), registration cancelled 2017-05-15, S/N 11150 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BALLOON WORKS FIREFLY 7 - Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 6](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-6) (registry code 1050101) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 11150 - Airframe hours: 116 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Peggy Ogland - Departed: BTL, BATTLE CREEK, MI ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N40363](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40363-1988-12-09), registration cancelled 1988-12-09, S/N S55A851 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RAVEN S55A - Registry model: [Raven S55A](https://openairdocs.org/model/raven-s55a) (registry code 7480402) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: S-55A-851 - Airframe hours: 3049 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N1505F; age 26; 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 - Pilot, aircraft N40363; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19870712038181A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870712038181A), Jul 12, 1987: Balwks FIREFLY7, Springfield, MI, Substantial damage. High climb rate. Collided with basket of a higher balloon N40363. Impact ripped the envelope. Fell to the ground. - [Accident 19870712038182A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870712038182A), Jul 12, 1987: Raven S55A, Springfield, MI, Substantial damage. Basket was struck by top of a fast rising balloon N1505F. Impact ripped envelope and the balloon fell to ground. 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.