# NTSB IAD78FIA10: Balloon WKS Fire 7, N27138, Catlett, VA, June 27, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: June 27, 1978
- Place: Catlett, VA · CATLETT, VA
- Location: 38.6564° N, 77.6289° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Catlett, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6564&lon=-77.6289&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report October 6, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 140248
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD78FIA10
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD78FIA10

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2614  78/6/27    CATLETT,VA          BALLOON WKS FIRE 7  CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 30, 313
        TIME - 1915                    N27138              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-MINOR        OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CASANOVA,VA                UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    5000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- LAUNCHED INTO FORECAST HIGH WINDS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N27138](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N27138-2014-09-25), registration cancelled 2014-09-25, S/N 778, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALLOON WKS FIRE 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
- Engines: none
- Damage: Minor 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 19780627017149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780627017149A), Jun 27, 1978: Balwks FIREFLY7, Catlett, VA, Substantial damage. Launched into forecast high winds.

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.