# NTSB NYC84IA164: Barnes Firefly 7, N3613D, Gorham, ME, May 7, 1984

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · Minor injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: May 7, 1984, 06:45 local (10:45 UTC)
- Place: Gorham, ME
- Location: 43.6932° N, 70.4350° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Gorham, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6932&lon=-70.4350&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35442
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC84IA164
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35442/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84IA164

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS THE BALLOON ENCOUNTERED INCREASED WINDS. THE BALLOON TOUCHED DOWN HARD TILTING THE BASKET ONTO ITS SIDE. A PASSENGERS ARM BECAME CAUGHT BETWEEN THE BASKET AND THE GROUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3613D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3613D-2022-02-05), registration cancelled 2022-02-05, S/N F7-038, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BARNES 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: F7-038
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Hot Fun, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 24, 1984, 5 hours before
- Departed: GORHAM, ME

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; commercial; medical: unknown, unknown

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles

## 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 19840507017319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840507017319A), May 7, 1984: Balwks FIREFLY7, Gorham, ME. Wind gust during balloon landing caused basket to tip over on ground impact. Passengers arm pinned by basket.

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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