# NTSB FTW02LA146: Balloon Works Firefly 7B-15, N25360, Port Allen, LA, May 11, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 11, 2002, 07:45 local (12:45 UTC) - Place: Port Allen, LA - Coordinates: 30.78861, -91.42778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7886&lon=-91.4278&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54666 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA146 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54666/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54666 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA146 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to land in the sugar cane field, which resulted in the pilot's unintentional exit from the basket. A contributing factor was the high vegetation in the field. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis After a routine flight, the pilot elected to land in a sugar cane field. Prior to landing, the pilot pulled the vent line to deflate the balloon. When the basket started to tip over onto its side, it dragged along the ground. The basket of the balloon "got hung up on a cane row for a few seconds" as the envelope continued forward for a few feet, pulling the pilot "up and in front of the basket." Subsequently, the basket "came loose" from the cane row and struck the pilots leg. ## Factual narrative On May 11, 2002, at 0745 central daylight time, a Ballon Works Firefly 7B-15 hot-air balloon, N25360, was undamaged during a hard landing near Port Allen, Louisiana. The balloon was registered to and operated by the pilot. The private pilot was seriously injured, and the sole passenger of the balloon, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 0640. The 269-hour pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that after a routine flight, she elected to land in a large sugar cane field. Prior to landing, she pulled the vent line to deflate the balloon. When the basket started to tip over onto its side, it dragged along the ground. The basket of the balloon "got hung up on a cane row for a few seconds" as the envelope continued forward for a few feet, pulling her "up and in front of the basket." Subsequently, when the basket "came loose" from the cane row, it and "hit her leg causing a break." The pilot further stated in the Recommendation (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented) section of the NTSB Form 6120.1/2; "Not to land cross-way to rows in a sugar cane field. (Very deep rows)." At 0753, the weather observation facility at the Baton Rouge Metropolitan, Ryan Field Airport, located 7 nautical miles northeast of the accident site, reported the wind from 090 degrees at 5 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N25360](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N25360-2018-03-01), registration cancelled 2018-03-01, S/N F7B-328, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Balloon Works Firefly 7B-15 - Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7B-15](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-7b-15) (registry code 1050119) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: F7B-328 - Airframe hours: 236 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Patricia M. Fontaine - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 4, 2002, 1 hours before - Departed: BTR, Baton Rouge, LA - Destination: Port Allen, LA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: serious; private; last flight review November 18, 2001; flight hours: 269 total, 269 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: BTR, 7 nm away ## 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 20020511011109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020511011109A), May 11, 2002: Balwks FIREFLY7B15, Portallen, LA, No damage. (-23) Pilot executed a high wind, hard landing which ejected the pilot from the basket. The pilot attempted the landing perpendicular to the cane field rows.… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 21, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54666. 389 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 389 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436562&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.