# NTSB CHI98LA184: Balloon Works Firefly 7-15, N25491, Waterloo, IA, May 30, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 30, 1998, 06:55 local (11:55 UTC) - Place: Waterloo, IA - Coordinates: 42.490806, -92.350173 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4908&lon=-92.3502&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10901 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA184 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10901/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA184 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the power lines during climb. A factor was the power lines. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, climb - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) - clearance - not obtained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The accident balloon was part of a balloon rally. The pilot reported that he arrived at the target drop area near the Waterloo Municipal Airport. He further reported that 'After throwing my baggie I started to burn to get enough lift to clear powerlines. It seems to me we were going parallel with the powerlines along Jordan Street and would have cleared the powerlines on West Airline Highway when a gust of wind took us into the powerlines on Jordan Street.' After contacting the wires the balloon slid horizontally down the wires until the basket came to rest alongside a power pole. The pilot secured the basket to the pole using a rope and waited for approximately 2 hours until he and the passenger were lowered out of the basket by the fire department. Calm winds were reported in the area at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On May 30, 1998, at 0655 central daylight time, a Balloon Works Firefly 7-15, N25491, operated by a commercial rated balloon pilot, collided with powerlines during an approach to a field in Waterloo, Iowa. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The balloon received substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was taking part in a balloon race when the accident occurred. The flight originated in Waterloo, Iowa, at approximately 0637. The accident balloon was part of a balloon rally. The pilot reported he departed Byrnes Park and traveled to a target drop area near the Waterloo Municipal Airport. He reported he "After throwing my baggie I started to burn to get enough lift to clear powerlines. It seems to me we were going parallel with the powerlines along Jordan Street and would have cleared the powerlines on West Airline Highway when a gust of wind took us into the powerlines on Jordan Street." The pilot reported that after contacting the wires the balloon slid horizontally down the wires until the basket came to rest alongside a power pole. He then secured the basket to the pole using a rope and waited for approximately 2 hours until he and the passenger were lowered out of the basket by the fire department. Calm winds were reported in the area at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N25491](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N25491-2019-11-04), registration cancelled 2019-11-04, S/N F7-775, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15 (FIREFLY 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: F7-775 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Henry A. Schick - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 14, 1998, 132 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; commercial; medical: unknown, unknown; flight hours: 582 total, 582 in this make and model, 582 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 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 19980530011779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980530011779A), May 30, 1998: Balwks FIREFLY715, Waterloo, IA, Substantial damage. Contacted wires during approach to landing area. Basket lodged on power pole.(-23) while on approach to a designated target/landing area, the balloon contacted… 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.