# NTSB LAX85LA153: Barnes FF-8-24, N3608C, Scottsdale, AZ, February 25, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 24, 1985, 17:15 local (Feb 25, 1985, 00:15 UTC)
- Place: Scottsdale, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.380092, -111.84066 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3801&lon=-111.8407&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 7 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24661
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85LA153
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24661/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA153

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, landing
  - object - wire,transmission (cause)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - wind information - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - performance data - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - planned approach - poor, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

ON LANDING THE BALLOON TOUCHED DOWN SHORT OF THE DESIRED LANDING AREA. THE PILOT HEATED SLIGHTLY IN ORDER TO PROCEED TO SMOOTH FIELD. A STRONG GUST PICKED UP THE BALLOON AND TOOK IT INTO POWER LINES WHICH ARCED AND THE BALLOON CAUGHT FIRE. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE WINDS WERE 4 KNOTS GUSTING TO 20 KNOTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3608C (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BARNES FF-8-24
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 838
- Airframe hours: 234
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Percy C. Davies
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 4, 1985, 38 hours before
- Destination: UNK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; commercial; flight hours: 197 total, 197 in this make and model, 154 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 275° at 4 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F

## 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 19850224006049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850224006049A), Feb 24, 1985: Balwks FIREFLY824, Scottsdale, AZ, Destroyed. Touched down short of intended field. During attempt to relocate to a smooth field, envelope struck powerlines.

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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