# NTSB CHI91LA292: Balloon Works Firefly X-7, N4055T, Altoona, IA, September 7, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 7, 1991, 07:30 local (12:30 UTC)
- Place: Altoona, IA
- Coordinates: 41.650993, -93.470733 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6510&lon=-93.4707&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 4, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15185
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI91LA292
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15185/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91LA292

## Probable cause

WEATHER EVALUATION MISJUDGED AND OVERCONFIDENCE IN PERSONAL ABILITY.  A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS HIGH WINDS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT SAID THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING A HIGH WIND LANDING, THE GONDOLA HIT THE TERRAIN HARD, AND TIPPED OVER.  A PASSENGER SUFFERED A BROKEN ANKLE DURING THE LANDING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4055T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4055T-2021-01-30), registration cancelled 2021-01-30, S/N 10136, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALLOON WORKS FIREFLY X-7 (FIREFLY X-)
- Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-7) (registry code 1050100) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 10136
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: King, Gary D.
- Departed: ALTOONA, IA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; commercial; flight hours: 247 total, 200 in this make and model, 247 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: DSM, 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 19910907038629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910907038629A), Sep 7, 1991: Balwks FIREFLY7, Altoona, IA. Launched into brisk winds that increased after takeoff. Made hard landing tipping over basket. Passenger injured.

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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