# NTSB DEN82DTE26: Barnes AX-7, N4069Y, Aurora, CO, September 4, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: September 4, 1982, 08:05 local (14:05 UTC)
- Place: Aurora, CO
- Location: 39.7294° N, 104.8319° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Aurora, CO, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7294&lon=-104.8319&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 September 4, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69850
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN82DTE26
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69850/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82DTE26

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE VFR LOCAL PLEASURE FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED IN STRONG 20-25 KT WIND CONDITIONS. THE WIND CONDITION HAD CHANGED SUBSTANTIALLY DURING THE DURATION OF THE FLIGHT. DURING A LANDING IN A PLOWED FIELD THE GONDOLA BOUNCED AND WAS DRUG APPROXIMATELY 270 FEET. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED A BROKEN ANKLE DURING THE LANDING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4069Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4069Y-2013-03-07), registration cancelled 2013-03-07, S/N 10050, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BARNES AX-7
- 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: 10050
- Airframe hours: 236
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Jeanne Schuenn
- Registered owner: Jeanne Schuenn
- Departed: AURORA, CO
- Destination: AURORA, CO
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; commercial; medical: unknown; flight hours: 148 total, 148 in this make and model, 104 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 25 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- 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 19820904045069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820904045069A), Sep 4, 1982: Balwks FIREFLY7, Aurora, CO. Balloon was dragged across ground during landing in high wind. This caused passengers leg to be broken.

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.