# NTSB LAX91LA047: Balloon Works Firefly 8-24, N7113U, Poway, CA, November 26, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 25, 1990, 16:25 local (Nov 26, 1990, 00:25 UTC)
- Place: Poway, CA
- Coordinates: 32.970417, -117.019775 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9704&lon=-117.0198&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 12, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27070
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91LA047
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27070/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA047

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN A PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WHICH RELATED TO THE BASKET'S TIPPING OVER WERE THE PILOT'S MISJUDGING THE WIND DIRECTION AND THE WIND'S RELATIVE HIGH SPEED.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - wind information - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - berm
  - proper touchdown point - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT AND FIVE REVENUE PASSENGERS DEPARTED FOR A LOCAL FLIGHT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, DURING THE FLIGHT THE WIND DIRECTION AND SPEED CHANGED. THE PILOT MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AT LANDING. A DIRT FIELD WAS LOCATED AND THE BALLOON TOUCHED DOWN. IT THEN DRIFTED INTO A TWO FOOT TALL EMBANKMENT AND TIPPED OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7113U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7113U-1996-11-04), registration cancelled 1996-11-04, S/N F8114 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALLOON WORKS FIREFLY 8-24 (FIREFLY 8-)
- Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 8-24](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-8-24) (registry code 1050107) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: F8-114
- Engines: AMA/EXPR UNK unknown
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Kimberly Lynch, doing business as Above All Balloon Charters
- Departed: NONE, DEL MAR, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; commercial; flight hours: 365 total, 365 in this make and model, 348 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 7 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: -0 °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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19901125052089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901125052089A), Nov 25, 1990: Balwks FIREFLY824, Poway, CA, Minor damage. Bumpy landing in a field. Dragged by wind basket,hit dirt bank,tipped over. One passenger was ejected.

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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