# NTSB CHI97LA305: Balloon Works Firefly 7B-15, N90755, Columbia, MO, August 10, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 10, 1997, 18:55 local (23:55 UTC) - Place: Columbia, MO - Coordinates: 39.020145, -92.299468 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0201&lon=-92.2995&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10712 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI97LA305 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10712/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA305 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper planning/decision. The unfavorable wind was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis According to the pilot, there were three weather briefings prior to the flight. The last briefing indicated that the approaching cold front had dissipated, and that calm winds were expected to remain. The pilot briefed his passenger on hard landing techniques prior to launching with approximately 10-15 other balloons. Nearly 30 minutes into the flight, the wind shifted 180 degrees and accelerated. The pilot elected to descent for a landing in a field. During the landing sequence, one corner of the basket contacted the ground, causing the basket to pirouette onto one side. At this time, the passenger's foot became caught between the propane tank and the basket causing an ankle fracture. ## Factual narrative On August 10, 1997, at 1855 central daylight time, a Balloon Works Firefly 7B-15, N90755, operated by a balloon pilot, experienced a hard landing near Columbia, Missouri. The passenger sustained serious injuries. The pilot was not injured and the balloon was not damaged. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was on file. The local flight departed the Boone County Fairgrounds, Columbia, Missouri at 1830 cdt. The pilot in command of the balloon was participating in the United States National Hot Air Balloon Championships. His only passenger had won a balloon ride in N90755. In a written statement, the pilot stated that prior to the flight, he attended three weather briefings. The first two briefings indicated a cold front approaching from the northwest, associated with rain and thunderstorms. The event was put on hold by the weather official, pending an improvement in the weather. According to the pilot, the third briefing, held at 6:15pm cdt, indicated that the "system had dissipated and that extremely calm winds should remain for the duration of the flight time." The event was then cancelled due to the near no-wind conditions. At this time, the pilot elected to fly. The pilot stated that he briefed his passenger "on his duties and on hard landing techniques." The balloon launched with approximately 10-15 other balloons. The pilot reported that approximately thirty minutes into the flight, the wind shifted 180 degrees and accelerated. He elected to descend for landing in a field. During the landing sequence, one corner of the basket contacted the ground, causing the basket to pirouette onto one side. The pilot stated that the passenger's foot got caught between the propane tank and the basket resulting in a fractured ankle. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N90755](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N90755), registered now, S/N F7B-358 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Balloon Works FIREFLY 7B-15 (FIREFLY 7B) - Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7B-15](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-7b-15) (registry code 1050119) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: F7B-358 - Airframe hours: 76 - Engines: unknown - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Theron Riley - Registered owner: Balloon Stormers Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 6, 1997, 15 hours before - Departed: MO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; commercial; flight hours: 196 total, 196 in this make and model, 190 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 6 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19970810029219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970810029219A), Aug 10, 1997: Balwks FIREFLY7B, Columbia, MO. Landed hard and a passenger was seriously 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. --- 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.