- Date
- August 17, 2008, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place
- Mountain Grove, MO
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious; on the ground: 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Other
- Aircraft
- N90897Balloon Works Firefly 7-15
- Defining event
- Other: Fire/smoke (non-impact)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Not reported
- Status
- Completed · report January 29, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20080817844969I
- Case key
- 68722
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
An on-board fire following a propane leak. Contributing to the accident was the lack of training/experience of the non-certificated pilot.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
A non-certificated balloon pilot made a tethered balloon flight. During the ascent, a propane leak and fire broke out on-board. The fire caused one of the propane tanks to explode. At an altitude of approximately 80 feet, the pilot jumped to escape the burning craft. The balloon's basket then separated from the envelope and fell to the ground. When ground handlers went to aid the pilot, a second propane tank exploded, causing serious burn injuries to one of the participants. A reason for the propane leak was not determined.
Factual narrative
On August 17, 2008, at approximately 0830 central daylight time, a Balloon Works, Firefly 7-15, N90897 balloon, piloted by a private individual, was destroyed when the balloon's envelope caught fire during a tethered accent near Mountain Grove, Missouri. The non-certificated pilot, sole occupant of the balloon, was fatally injured. Another individual was seriously injured while assisting the pilot, after a propane tank exploded. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code Federal Regulations (CFR) part 91 flight. Several ground handlers reported that they and the balloon pilot was going to honor the balloon's owner, who had recently passed away, by making a tethered balloon flight. During the accent, a propane leak occurred with a subsequent fire; the pilot was not able to put out the fire. The fire caused one of the propane tanks to explode. At about 80 feet in the air, the pilot jumped from the burning craft to escape the fire. The balloon's basket then separated from the envelope and landed near the pilot. When ground handlers went to aid the pilot, a second propane tank exploded, causing serious burn injuries to one of the participants. The reason for the propane leak was not determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N90897
- Reported as
- Balloon Works Firefly 7-15
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- F7-717
- Airframe hours
- 305
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- In-Flight
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Widwest Plumbing
- Airworthiness certificate
- Unknown
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 22, 2002
- Departed
- Mountain Grove, MO
- Destination
- Mountain Grove, MO
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 49
- Injuries
- Fatal
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Not reported
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 24, 2008, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.1 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.