# NTSB ERA23LA391: Balloon Works Firefly 7, N192HH, Anderson, SC, September 3, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 3, 2023, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Anderson, SC · Wooded area next to a road - Coordinates: 34.51806, -82.67222 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5181&lon=-82.6722&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 193306 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA391 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193306/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193306 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA391 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to avoid trees during the descent for landing, resulting in substantial damage to the balloon. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=1050118), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=1050118), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=1050118), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=1050118), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the balloon reported that before the flight, the reported wind direction called for a favorable path with many available landing areas; however, during the flight the wind shifted and the balloon traveled over congested living areas and neighborhoods. As he was looking for a place to land the wind was light and variable. He attempted an approach to a cul-de-sac; however, spectators were parked there, preventing a landing. He aborted the approach and tried another to a corner field. That approach was also aborted due to powerlines in the vicinity. He attempted another approach to a “small area” and the balloon’s envelope caught tree limbs during the descent. After becoming briefly suspended in the tree branches about 5 to 8 feet above the ground, the branches broke and balloon basket dropped to the ground. The passenger sustained a minor injury, the pilot was not injured. Postaccident examination of the balloon revealed substantial damage to several fabric panels and two suspension cables. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N192HH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N192HH), registered now, S/N F7-781, built 1992 (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) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: F7-781 - Year built: 1992 - Airframe hours: 286 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: Annual, May 4, 2023 - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 10, 2023; seat: none; flight hours: 4,500 total, 127 in this make and model, 3,800 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: KAND, 2 nm away - METAR: METAR KAND 031356Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 24/19 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP209 T02440194 ## 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 20230903016579I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230903016579I), Sep 3, 2023: Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15, Anderson, SC, Minor damage. FAA form 8020-9: Hot air Balloon crash, unknown circumstances. Pilot statement: I took off at 8:45AM with one crew passenger from a small field approximately 1… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 25, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193306. 6.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16511845&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB mor correspondence with pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16511068&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=3%20NTSB%20MOR%20Pilot%20Correspondence-Rel.pdf - Investigation photograph (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 729 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16512006&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=3a%20Investigation%20Photograph-Rel.pdf - NTSB mor damage assessment (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16511675&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=5%20NTSB%20MOR%20Damage%20Assessment-Rel.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.