- Date
- April 7, 1984, 07:58 local (15:58 UTC)
- Place
- Moorpark, CA
- Injuries
- 5 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N3749WBalloon Works Fire FLY 7
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19840407012939A
- Case key
- 24232
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
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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 reported that after completing the 2nd flt of the morning, he changed the fuel tank & acquired new passengers. He stated that during the 1st 2 flts, the balloon had not drifted more than 100 yds from its point of lift-off. As the balloon ascended on the 3rd flt, the wind condition changed. At about 10 ft AGL, it began drifting toward nearby power lines. As soon as the plt realized the balloon would not clear the lines, he grabbed the vent rope to rip the top; however, the balloon drifted into the power lines. Steel cables suspending the gondola touched the power lines & a shower of sparks developed. All occupants were seriously burned when bits of hot metal contacted their heads, necks & backs.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3749W
- Reported as
- Balloon Works Fire FLY 7
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- F7-127
- Airframe hours
- 32
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- In-Flight
- Flight
- Aerial observation · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Stephen D. Whorf
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 29, 1983 · 32 hours before
- Departed
- Moorpark, CA
- Destination
- Morepark, CA
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 32
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Flight hours
- 225 total · 225 in this make and model · 210 as pilot in command · 40 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 225° at 5 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.