# NTSB FTW87LA073: Balloon Works Firefly 7-B, N15253, Broken Arrow, OK, March 5, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 5, 1987, 07:15 local (13:15 UTC)
- Place: Broken Arrow, OK
- Location: 36.0526° N, 95.7908° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Broken Arrow, OK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0526&lon=-95.7908&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 21, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22336
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW87LA073
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22336/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87LA073

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE BALLOON DRIFTED INTO POWER LINES JUST AFTER LIFTOFF. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS HOOKING UP A NEW TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND DID NOT NOTICE THAT THE BALLOON WAS DESCENDING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N15253](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N15253-1989-08-14), registration cancelled 1989-08-14, S/N 10330 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALLOON WORKS FIREFLY 7-B (FIREFLY 7-)
- Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-B](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-7-b) (registry code 10501A9) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 10330
- Airframe hours: 244
- Engines: NONE NONE unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Edgar Allen Ford
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 15, 1987

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; commercial; medical: unknown; flight hours: 201 total, 201 in this make and model, 183 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 48 °F
- Observed at: TUL

## 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 19870305004619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870305004619A), Mar 5, 1987: Balwks FIREFLY7B, Broken Arrow, OK, Substantial damage. The balloon struck powerlines shortly after liftoff. Pilot was distracted and failed to notice balloon descending.

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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