# NTSB SEA96LA122: Balloon Works Firefly 8B, N71233, Wilsonville, OR, June 16, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 16, 1996, 06:15 local (13:15 UTC) - Place: Wilsonville, OR - Coordinates: 45.299724, -122.779602 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2997&lon=-122.7796&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious, 2 minor - Status: Completed, report February 28, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42393 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA122 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42393/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA122 ## Probable cause failure of the pilot to maintain clearance from the static wire, which became shorted to a transmission wire and subsequently caused a fire to erupt on the balloon's envelope. Factors relating to the accident were: the obstructions (power line wires), and the pilot's reduced ability to visually detect the static wire, due to the gray sky condition in the background. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, landing - light condition - other (contributing factor) - visual/aural detection, pilot in command (contributing factor) - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) - object - wire,static (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Fire, landing - balloon equipment,envelope - fire ## Analysis Having aborted the first attempt to land, the pilot was maneuvering the balloon for a landing in a second field. He maneuvered to pass over high tension (power line) wires, but did not see the static wire. The balloon subsequently impacted the static wire, which broke and began arcing after contact with the high voltage wires beneath. A fire erupted on the balloon's envelope, but the pilot was able to land without igniting the propane tanks. A high, thin, gray overcast existed at the time, which made visual acquisition of the single static wire difficult. ## Factual narrative On June 16, 1996, approximately 0615 Pacific daylight time, a Firefly 8B hot air balloon, N71233, registered to and being flown by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with the static line above 230,000 volt high tension power lines near Wilsonville, Oregon. The pilot and one occupant sustained serious injuries while the remaining two occupants sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was a personal entrant into a balloon race, was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and originated from an open field several miles from the crash site. The pilot reported that after aborting a landing attempt due to overflying the field, he selected another field further downwind. He observed high tension lines and maneuvered to clear them but "never saw (the) 3/8" cable above." After the balloon contacted the static wire, it broke and the pilot observed electrical arcing as the line contacted the high voltage lines beneath. The balloons envelope caught fire, however, the pilot was able to land the balloon without igniting any of the propane bottles. The pilot also reported that "there was a high overcast" and that he "didn't see the small, grey wire until contact against (the) grey sky." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N71233](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N71233-2000-07-19), registration cancelled 2000-07-19, S/N F8B-148 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B - Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-8b) (registry code 1050110) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: F8B-148 - Airframe hours: 250 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ash, Jonathan, G. - Registered owner: Ash, Jonathan, G. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 9, 1996, 20 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 1,200 total, 150 in this make and model, 1,100 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 5 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: HIO, 17 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19960616014069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960616014069A), Jun 16, 1996: Balwks FIREFLY8B, Wilsonville, OR, Substantial damage. Struck unseen powerline static wire landing. Basket caught fire. Landed without igniting propane tanks. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.