# NTSB CHI94LA309: Balloon Works Fire FLY 7-15, N2597S, Storm Lake, IA, September 2, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 1, 1994, 19:15 local (Sep 2, 1994, 00:15 UTC) - Place: Storm Lake, IA - Coordinates: 42.639087, -95.190673 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6391&lon=-95.1907&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report January 12, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9664 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA309 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9664/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA309 ## Probable cause the pilot's excessive rate of descent to landing. Factors in the accident were the gusts and downdraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - descent - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to the pilot, as he approached his destination airport in his hot air balloon, the balloon encountered a downdraft from a dissipating thunderstorm. He intended to bring the hot air balloon down to the ground quickly to avoid the wind from blowing the balloon across the ground. Although he continued burning all the way to the ground, the pilot was unable to stop the balloon's high rate of descent. The gondola impacted the ground hard, rebounded into the air to approximately 100 feet above the ground, and then impacted the ground again. The balloon continued along the ground until it struck power lines where it came to rest. ## Factual narrative On September 1, 1994, at 1915 central daylight time, a Firefly 7- 15 balloon, N2597S, was substantially damaged when it landed hard at Storm Lake Municipal Airport, Storm Lake, Iowa. Both the commercial pilot and passenger received serious injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight originated from a field located eight miles northeast of Storm Lake, Iowa. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the flight. According to the pilot, he inflated the hot air balloon and ascended with one passenger aboard en route to Storm Lake Municipal Airport. He states as the balloon approached the airport, the balloon encountered a downdraft from a dissipating thunderstorm which was several miles away. The pilot believed that he would have to bring the balloon down to the ground quickly to avoid the wind from blowing it across the ground. Although he continued burning all the way to the ground, he was unable not stop the balloon's high rate of decent. The gondola impacted the ground hard and the pilot was thrown from the basket. A fire started near the burner assembly as the balloon rebounded into the air. The passenger was still aboard. The pilot states the balloon climbed to approximately 100 feet above the ground and then started to descend. The balloon impacted the ground for a second time. At this point the passenger was able to crawl out on the gondola. The balloon continued along the ground until it struck power lines where it came to rest. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2597S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2597S-2013-09-27), registration cancelled 2013-09-27, S/N F7-811 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Balloon Works FIRE FLY 7-15 (FIRE FLY 7) - Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-7-15) (registry code 1050118) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: F7-811 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Richard C. Schick - Registered owner: Richard C. Schick - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Airport: SLB, Storm Lake Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; commercial; medical: unknown, unknown; flight hours: 474 total, 474 in this make and model, 464 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 11 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SLB ## 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 19940901024839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940901024839A), Sep 1, 1994: Balwks FIREFLY7, Storm Lake, IA, Substantial damage. Near destination got downdraft from nearby thunderstorm. Unable recover. Impacted bounced. Dragged into powerline. 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.