# NTSB DEN89LA005: Balloon Works Firefly 7, N3678E, Albuquerque, NM, October 4, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 4, 1988, 09:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Coordinates: 35.05902, -106.619338 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0590&lon=-106.6193&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 3, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17623
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89LA005
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17623/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA005

## Analysis

THE COMMERCIAL BALLOON PLT AND ONE PAX WERE PARTICIPATING IN A BALLOON FIESTA. THE ACFT TOOK OFF FROM ALBUQUERQUE, ON A LOCAL FLIGHT IN LIGHT WINDS. AT ALTITUDE, THE BALLOON ENCOUNTERED EASTERLY WINDS THAT CARRIED THE BALLOON SOUTHWEST OF ALBUQUERQUE, WHERE A LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED. PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, THE BALLOON BRUSHED A TREE AND THE PLT ADDED HEAT TO ATTEMPT TO CLIMB. THE BALLOON DID NOT RESPOND FAST ENOUGH AND IT STRUCK THE TERRAIN. THE PAX JUMPED FROM THE BASKET PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN. AT TOUCHDOWN, THE BALLOON BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR AND THE EASTERLY WIND PUSHED THE BALLOON INTO A WALL AND THROUGH THE PICTURE WINDOW OF A RESIDENCE. THE BALLOON CAME TO REST WITH THE ENVELOPE DRAPED OVER THE ROOF, AND THE BASKET INSIDE THE HOME.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, landing
  - object - tree(s)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - aborted
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)
  - go-around - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - residential area (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3678E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3678E-1999-11-09), registration cancelled 1999-11-09, S/N F7-064 (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)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: F 7-064
- Airframe hours: 320
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Stevenson, Stanley E.
- Registered owner: Stanley E Stevenson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 21, 1988, 54 hours before
- Departed: NONE, ALBUQUERQUE, NM
- Destination: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; commercial; flight hours: 349 total, 331 in this make and model, 331 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 39 °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 19881004044269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881004044269A), Oct 4, 1988: Balwks FIREFLY7, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. While landing the passenger jumped out prior to touchdown. Balloon rose and drifted into a house. No time to reheat

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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