# NTSB DFW08LA206: Balloon Works Firefly 7-15, N90897, Mountain Grove, MO, August 17, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 17, 2008, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Mountain Grove, MO - Coordinates: 37.130374, -92.260955 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1304&lon=-92.2610&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/800) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Other: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious; on the ground: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report January 29, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68722 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW08LA206 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68722/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=68722 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08LA206 ## 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 NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Experience/qualifications](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031000): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031000/cases.md?model=1050118), [All aircraft, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031000/cases.md) - [Balloon/dirigible structures](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035102): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035102/cases.md?model=1050118), [All aircraft, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035102/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Other: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=1050118), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Other: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) (defining event); cases with it: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=1050118), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) - [Other: Explosion (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/160); cases with it: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/160/sequence.md?model=1050118), [All aircraft, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/160/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1050118), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Explosion (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/180); cases with it: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/180/sequence.md?model=1050118), [All aircraft, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/180/sequence.md) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N90897-2018-01-29), registration cancelled 2018-01-29, S/N F7-717 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Balloon Works Firefly 7-15 - Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-7-15) (registry code 1050118) (OpenAirDocs) - 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: fatal ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Not reported ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20080817844969I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080817844969I), Aug 17, 2008: Balwks FIREFLY715, Mountain Grove, MO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) On the morning of August 17, 2008, several tethered flights were conducted on private property located on stone ridge drive in Mountain Grove, Missouri… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 24, 2008, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=68722. 1.1 MB in all. - Reports from Local Agencies (item 1, .PDF, 153 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40303733&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Local%20Agencies-Redacted.PDF - Photo: Propane Tanks (item 2, .PDF, 942 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40303734&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20Propane%20Tanks-Master.PDF 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.