# NTSB IAD98LA105: Balloon Works Firefly 7, N9067F, Freehold, NJ, August 29, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 29, 1998, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Freehold, NJ
- Location: 40.2602° N, 74.2759° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Freehold, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2602&lon=-74.2759&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 7, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 43859
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD98LA105
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43859/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98LA105

## Probable cause

The passenger's failure to secure himself during landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, landing
  - miscellaneous - inadequate, passenger (cause)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, he had set up to land the balloon in a large field, but the wind shifted so he decided to land in a smaller field.  During the landing, one of the passengers lost his balance and fell onto another passenger who incurred an ankle injury.  The pilot reported that he had briefed the passengers prior to touchdown.

## Factual narrative

On August 29, 1998, at 1900 eastern daylight time, N9067F, a Balloon Works, Firefly 7, landed in a field near Freehold, New Jersey, and a passenger sustained serious injuries during the landing.  The balloon was not damaged.  The certificated commercial pilot and two other passengers were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the local flight that originated in the Monroe Township, New Jersey.  The commercial sightseeing flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot, he had set up to land in a large field, but the wind shifted and he decided to land in a smaller field.  During the landing, one of the passengers lost his balance and fell onto another passenger who incurred an ankle injury.  The pilot reported that he had briefed the passengers prior to touchdown.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9067F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9067F), registered now, S/N F7-485, built 1989 (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)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: F7-485
- Airframe hours: 344
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Kenneth R Leota
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 5, 1998, 19 hours before
- Departed: MONROE TWNSHIP, NJ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; commercial; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 468 total, 295 in this make and model, 23 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 19980829032059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980829032059A), Aug 29, 1998: Balwks FIREFLY7, Freehold, NJ. (-23) Upon landing on passenger stepped on the other passengers foot resulting in a broken bone. See attached. (.4) according to the pilot, he had set up to…

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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