# NTSB FTW85LA153: Balloon Works Firefly 7, N4065D, Arlington, TX, March 17, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 17, 1985, 17:03 local (23:03 UTC)
- Place: Arlington, TX
- Coordinates: 32.689167, -97.189369 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6892&lon=-97.1894&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21699
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85LA153
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21699/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85LA153

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - aborted takeoff - initiated, pilot in command
  - object - wire,transmission
- Explosion, takeoff - initial climb
  - balloon equipment,suspension system/cables - arcing
  - fuel system,line - exploded
  - balloon equipment,basket - separation
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PASSENGER, A GUST OF WIND CAUSED THE BALLOON TO BECOME AIRBORNE PREMATURELY AND DRIFT TOWARD PWR LINES. APRX 25 FT FROM THE WIRES THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF BY DEFLATING THE ENVELOPE. JUST PRIOR TO WIRE CONTACT THE PASSENGER JUMPED ABOUT 25 FT TO THE GROUND. ELECTRICAL ARCING AND EXPLODING FUEL LINES CAUSED THE BASKET TO SEPARATE AND FALL TO THE TERRAIN WITH THE PLT STILL ABOARD. THE ENVELOPE CONTINUED ITS DESCENT EVENTUALLY COMING TO REST IN A SECOND SET OF PWR LINES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4065D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4065D-1990-08-14), registration cancelled 1990-08-14, S/N 10008 (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)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 10142
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: William W. Taylor

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; commercial

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 7 knots, gusting 9
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19850317007839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850317007839A), Mar 17, 1985: Balwks FIREFLY7, Arlington, TX, Destroyed. Deflation started after fake lift due to gust but drift continued into powerlines. Basket separated.

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.