# NTSB NYC93LA143: Balloon Works Fire FLY 7-15, N2574M, Milford, NH, August 1, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 1, 1993, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Milford, NH
- Location: 42.8316° N, 71.6787° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Milford, NH, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8316&lon=-71.6787&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 20, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38622
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC93LA143
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38622/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC93LA143

## Probable cause

UNFAVORABLE WINDS DURING LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING AND ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINING A BROKEN ANGLE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (cause)

## Analysis

THE BALLOON PILOT SAID THE WINDS WERE HIGHER THAN FORECAST.  DURING THE LANDING, THE BASKET TIPPED OVER AND WAS DRAGGED FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET AND RIGHTED ITSELF.  ONE PASSENGER RECEIVED A BROKEN ANKLE AND THE OTHER BRUISES.  THE PILOT REPORTED THE WINDS HAD A VELOCITY OF 5 TO 8 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 10 KNOTS.

## Factual narrative

On Sunday, August 1, 1993, at 1930 eastern daylight time, a Balloon Works, Firefly 7-15, N2574M, owned and operated by Richard Masters, of Hillsboro, New Hampshire, tipped over upon landing in a field in Milford, New Hampshire.  The balloon was not damaged, however, one passenger received minor injures and the other passenger received serious injuries.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local sight seeing flight.

In the NTSB Accident Report, the pilot stated:

...I instructed the passengers about the landing      procedures ie: hold onto the uprights, face the      direction we are going and bend your knees to absorb      the shock and stay in the basket.

After launching, I realized that the winds were      stronger than the six knots forecast and observed in      Manchester.  I still expected the winds to die down and      proceeded to fly up the valley which had numerous      fields and landing sites.  After about 20 minutes of      flight, I realized the winds weren't reducing      adequately and the direction had changed, taking me out      of the valley and I decided to land at the first      opportunity.  I landed in a large field and the basket      tipped over and dragged about fifteen feet where the      envelope had enough lift in it to right the basket and      leave it standing....

After the landing one passenger complained about his ankle and was taken to a local hospital.  He is reported to have broken his ankle in two places.  The other passenger was reported to have received bruises.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2574M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2574M-2013-04-30), registration cancelled 2013-04-30, S/N F7-823, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALLOON WORKS FIRE FLY 7-15 (FIRE FLY 7)
- Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-7-15) (registry code 1050118) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: A8108-3-5
- Airframe hours: 300
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard Masters
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 3, 1993, 15 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; commercial; medical: unknown; flight hours: 375 total, 375 in this make and model, 360 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F

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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