# NTSB FTW84LA254: Balloon Works Firefly 7, N3610R, Amarillo, TX, May 27, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 27, 1984, 08:40 local (13:40 UTC)
- Place: Amarillo, TX
- Coordinates: 35.170921, -101.930343 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1709&lon=-101.9303&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: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21352
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW84LA254
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21352/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84LA254

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Miscellaneous/other, landing
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, passenger (cause)

## Analysis

DURING A PRE-FLT BREIFING, THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM 280 DEG AT 6 TO 12 KTS. AT LAUNCH TIME, THE PLT ESTIMATED THE WIND WAS BLOWING AT 7 KTS. HE TOOK OFF AT 0720 CDT WITHOUT DIFFICULTY & CLIMBED TO ABOUT 1000 FT AGL. APRX 1 HR AFTER TAKING OFF, THE PLT TRIED TO LAND, BUT REPORTED AN ENCOUNTER WITH TURBULENCE & WIND SHEAR INDICATING THE WIND HAD INCREASED. HE DECIDED TO FLY TO WHERE THE TERRAIN WAS 'BROKEN' & HE COULD 'EXPECT A BETTER WINDBREAK.' AT ABOUT 10 FT AGL, HE 'RIPPED OUT.' THE BALLOON CONTACTED THE GROUND & DRAGGED APRX 100 YDS, CAME TO A BRIEF STOP, & BLEW ANOTHER 10 TO 15 FT. AT THAT POINT, ONE PASSENGER FELL OUT OF THE BASKET. THE BASKET WAS BLOWN OVER HER & BROKE HER ARM. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE HAD PROPERLY BRIEFED THE PASSENGERS ON THE APPROPRIATE PROCEDURES FOR THE PREVAILING WIND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3610R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3610R-2017-07-14), registration cancelled 2017-07-14, S/N F7-031, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALLOON WORKS FIREFLY 7
- Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-7) (registry code 1050100) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: F7-031
- Airframe hours: 27
- Engines: NONE NONE unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Donald J. Elwell
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 3, 1984, 1 hours before
- Departed: AMARILLO, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; commercial; medical: unknown, unknown; flight hours: 108 total, 108 in this make and model, 108 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 225° at 25 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19840527023709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840527023709A), May 27, 1984: Balwks FIREFLY7, Amarillo, TX, Minor damage. Balloon was dragged over the ground in a high wind landing. A passenger fell out and the basket dragged over her.

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.

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