- Date
- August 5, 1989, 17:45 local (22:45 UTC)
- Place
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N27113Balloon Works Firefly 6B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 28, 1991
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890805027299A
- Case key
- 22783
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot exceeded the temperature limitations of the balloon during the climb, which resulted in failure of the frabric. Factors related to the accident were: the previous heat damage to the frabric, and the lack of maintenance by the pilot/owner.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The plt was participating in the U.S. National hot air balloon championship. Video tapes showed that at an undetermined alt after takeoff, the balloon's rate of ascent increased substantially. Subsequently, at about 3000 ft AGL, fabric was observed to begin flapping & the balloon entered a rapid descent with the burner operating. It then impacted in an uncontrolled descent. An exam of the balloon revealed evidence of overheating of the fabric. There was evidence that overheating had occurred over a long period of time. The required temp gage, which should have been mounted in the top of the gondola, was not found.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N27113
- Reported as
- Balloon Works Firefly 6B
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- 6670
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Robert A Mock
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 1, 1988
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 52
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 7,730 total · 180 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 95 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BTR
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.