- Date
- May 25, 1986, 18:55 local (23:55 UTC)
- Place
- Lee'S Summit, MO
- Injuries
- 3 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N15369Balloon Works Firefly 7-B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19860525019479A
- Case key
- 34069
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 PIC stated that prior to liftoff, the balloon was gyrating and instructed the gnd crew member to steady the balloon by holding the rope. Just as the balloon became steady the PIC initiated his takeoff. The PIC was aware of turbulence in the takeoff site prior to liftoff and again during the initial liftoff fm the ground. The balloon drifted rapidly east southeast towards high voltage powerlines. The balloon encountered turbulence in the form of downdrafts. The PIC did not abort the takeoff but continued firing the burner to try to outclimb the effects of the turbulence. No test balloon was released fm the takeoff site to assess wind conditions prior to departure.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N15369
- Reported as
- Balloon Works Firefly 7-B (FIREFLY 7-)
- Category
- Balloon
- Serial number
- 10238
- Airframe hours
- 240
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Don R. Furr
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 1985 · 37 hours before
- Departed
- Lee'S Summit, MO
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 44
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Flight hours
- 247 total · 233 in this make and model · 233 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MKC, 15 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.