# NTSB MKC85LA185: Balloon Works Firefly 7, N40468, Shawnee, KS, August 11, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 10, 1985, 20:00 local (Aug 11, 1985, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Shawnee, KS
- Coordinates: 39.019744, -94.709922 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0197&lon=-94.7099&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: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34007
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC85LA185
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34007/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC85LA185

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - proper descent rate - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE COMMERCIAL BALLOON PLT WAS GIVING A RIDE TO THREE PAYING PASSENGERS. PLT STATED THAT DURING THE LANDING APCH HIGHER THAN NORMAL WINDS WERE PRESENT SO HE BRIEFED THE PASSENGERS TO LEAN AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE BASKET. HE STATED THAT HE PULLED THE DEFLATION LINE WHEN THE BASKET WAS 3 FT AGL. ONE PASSENGER GOT HER ARM UNDER THE SIDE OF THE BASKET AS IT WAS SKIDDING AND RECEIVED LACERATIONS. AFTER SHE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL, SHE WAS FOUND TO HAVE TWO COMPRESSED VERTEBRAE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N40468](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40468-2013-03-07), registration cancelled 2013-03-07, S/N 7902, built 1979 (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: 7902
- Airframe hours: 320
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Ray M. Ditirro
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 18, 1985, 7 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown; flight hours: 534 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 135° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19850810041639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850810041639A), Aug 10, 1985: Balwks FIREFLY7, Shawnee, KS. Passenger leaned out of basket while making a windy landing. Abrasion to arm and two compressed vertebrae a result.

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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