# NTSB IAD80DKM11: Balloon WKS AX-7, N4051Y, East Bend, NC, March 16, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 16, 1980
- Place: East Bend, NC · EAST BEND, NC
- Location: 36.2175° N, 80.5089° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of East Bend, NC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2175&lon=-80.5089&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 29, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131916
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD80DKM11
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD80DKM11

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0527  80/3/16    EAST BEND,NC        BALLOON WKS AX-7    CR-  0  0  1  INSTRUCTIONAL             STUDENT, AGE 27, 19 TOTAL
        TIME - 1005                    N4051Y              PX-  0  0  0  SOLO                      HOURS, 18 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          STATESVILLE,NC              LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
        REMARKS- LDG IN CONFINED AREA.STRUCK TREE LIMB DRG APCH.PUNCTURED ENVELOPE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4051Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4051Y-2021-07-02), registration cancelled 2021-07-02, S/N 7951, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALLOON WKS AX-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: Substantial 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 19800316006149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800316006149A), Mar 16, 1980: Balwks FIREFLY7, East Bend, NC, Substantial damage. Waited too long on balloon crosscountry. Low on fuel and landing area options. Hit tree on landing.

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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