# NTSB MKC87FA067: Balloon Works Firefly 6, N3695B, Kansas City, MO, April 5, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 4, 1987, 18:03 local (Apr 5, 1987, 00:03 UTC)
- Place: Kansas City, MO
- Coordinates: 38.869449, -94.589607 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8694&lon=-94.5896&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 11, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34283
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC87FA067
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34283/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC87FA067

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, climb
  - balloon equipment,burner system - erratic (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - condition(s)/step(s) insufficiently defined, manufacturer (contributing factor)
  - emergency procedure - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency
  - terrain condition - open field
- On ground/water collision with object, other
  - object - fence (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
- Fire, other
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT LIFT-OFF AND CLIMBOUT WERE NORMAL BUT, SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE FUEL PILOT LIGHT BEGAN TO FAIL CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL THE BURNER FLAMED OUT. THE PASSENGERS WERE BRIEFED AND THE CHASE VEHICLE WAS CONTACTED BY CB RADIO BEFORE THE PLT CLIMBED UP ON THE SIDE OF THE BASKET IN AN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO RE-IGNITE THE FUEL BURNER'S PILOT LIGHT. PASSENGERS STATED THAT THE PLT ORDERED THEM TO LAY ON THE FLOOR OF THE BASKET PRIOR TO IMPACT AS SHE TRIED TO ARREST THE BALLOON'S DESCENT WITH THE EMERGENCY BURNER. THE BALLOON LANDED HARD IN AN OPEN FIELD, BOUNCED, THEN SLID ON THE TURF FOR APPROX 150 FEET BEFORE SNAGGING A BARBED WIRE FENCE. A POST-CRASH FIRE ERUPTED WHEN THE BALLOON,S ENVELOPE DRAPED ACROSS POWERLINES. THE PIC STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES WERE HANDLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AIRCRAFT'S FLIGHT MANUAL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3695B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3695B-2015-05-04), registration cancelled 2015-05-04, S/N F6-003 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALLOON WORKS FIREFLY 6
- Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 6](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-6) (registry code 1050101) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: F6-003
- Airframe hours: 14
- Engines: UNKNOWN UNKNOWN unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Bill A. Smiley
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Limited (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, May 21, 1986, 14 hours before
- Departed: KANSAS CITY, MO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial; flight hours: 62 total, 62 in this make and model, 41 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °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 19870404008409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870404008409A), Apr 4, 1987: Balwks FIREFLY6, Kansas City, MO, Substantial damage. Struck electrical transmission lines during a forced landing. Propane gas burner flamed out. Post crash fire.

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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