# NTSB FTW79FPJ23: Balloon WKS FRFLY7, N2451H, Norman, OK, May 31, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 31, 1979
- Place: Norman, OK · NORMAN, OK
- Location: 35.2226° N, 97.4395° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Norman, OK, within about 8 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2226&lon=-97.4395&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 19, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 136016
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW79FPJ23
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW79FPJ23

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0865  79/5/31    NORMAN,OK           BALLOON WKS FRFLY7  CR-  0  0  1  INSTRUCTIONAL             STUDENT, AGE UNK/NR, 19
        TIME - 0730                    N2451H              PX-  0  0  0  CHECK                     TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          NORMAN,OK                   LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     STATIC: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
        FACTOR(S)
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: GROUND CREWMAN
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - CREW COORDINATION-POOR
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     360
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           6                                                       VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- GROUND CREW RELEASED BALLOON AFT GUST OF WIND CAUGHT IT.WIND GUSTS TO 12KTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2451H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2451H-1994-05-17), registration cancelled 1994-05-17, S/N 7712 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALLOON WKS FRFLY7
- Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-7) (registry code 1050100) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Engines: none
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19790531009469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790531009469A), May 31, 1979: Balwks FIREFLY7, Norman, OK, Substantial damage. Balloon was inflated but had not reached equilibrium. A gust of wind blew acft into trees.

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.