# NTSB DEN83FTE03: Balloon Works Firefly 7, N1516S, Del Norte, CO, May 30, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: May 30, 1983, 11:20 local (17:20 UTC)
- Place: Del Norte, CO
- Coordinates: 37.670562, -106.349166 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6706&lon=-106.3492&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16008
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83FTE03
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16008/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83FTE03

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE CIRCUMNAVIGATING SNOW SHOWERS AT NIGHT IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN THE PLT ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON A HIGHWAY. THE ACFT STRUCK TREES ON A HILLSIDE THAT THE PLT HADN'T SEEN IN THE DARKNESS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1516S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1516S-2014-09-05), registration cancelled 2014-09-05, S/N 11086, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Balloon Works FIREFLY 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: 11086
- Airframe hours: 146
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Diana L. Doga
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, April 10, 1983, 10 hours before
- Departed: BALLOON RANCH, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 75 total, 53 in this make and model, 8 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken

## 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 19830530034589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830530034589A), May 30, 1983: Balwks FIREFLY7, Del Norte, CO. Encountered rough air. Made a hard landing on a dirt road. A passenger received a broken ankle on ground impact.

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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