NTSB investigations: Balloon Works FIREFLY 7, 1983

9 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Balloon Works FIREFLY 7. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

Cases per year

19782026
NTSB investigations: Balloon Works FIREFLY 7, 1983 per year, 1978–2026: 90 cases
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Latest cases

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
  WHERE year(c.\"eventDate\") = 1983
    AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('1050100'))
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

NTSB FTW84LA087Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 7 · Albuquerque, NMThe plt reported that during flt, unfavorable winds were encountered. An apch was made to a golf course, but the plt aborted dur to high winds. A short time later, an apch was made to a park area. According to the plt, the wind switched as the Balloon touched…Dec 3, 1983 · N4061P · Substantial damageNTSB DEN84LA043Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 7 · Monte Vista, COThe plt was participating in a 'hare & hounds' Balloon contest. The aircrews were wx briefed at the launch site before the event. Reportedly, there was a front approaching but it was not expected to move thru until about 2 to 3 hrs after the contest.…Nov 11, 1983 · N2416H · No damageNTSB CHI84LA018Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 7 · Dorr, MIDuring landing the basket hit a hill resulting in the basket stopping suddenly & ejecting the plt & passengers from the basket. The plt thought a passenger was still in the basket so she grabbed the valve line & hung on as the Balloon rose approximately 100…Oct 9, 1983 · N1533N · No damageNTSB FTW83FA364Accident · No injuriesField investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly AX-7 · Fort Worth, TXThe intended landing area was a parking lot. Adjacent to the lot was a one-story building on top of which a tv antenna about 20 ft above the roof top. In an effort to clear the antenna during the descent to the parking lot, the pltwas not aware of a set of…Aug 6, 1983 · N3609C · Substantial damageNTSB CHI83LA318Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBarnes AX-7 · Utica, MIThe student pilot made a delayed decision to land and landed within a few ft of wires without seeing them. The ground crew tried to hold him but the balloon still had too much lift. The student then saw the wires and tried to go over thembut the collision…Jul 17, 1983 · N1515K · DestroyedNTSB MKC83LA140Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Fire FLY 7 · Ellsworth, KSThe Balloon collided with a radio tower during takeoff. The wind was reported to be from 180 degrees at 12-18 KTS. There is no evidence that this plt received weather briefing. This Balloon was launched closer to the tower than any of the other balloons…Jul 2, 1983 · N1531N · Substantial damageNTSB CHI83LA265Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 7 · Flint, MIAfter takeoff, the plt leveled the Balloon, and a short time later, he collapsed to the floor of the gondola & had difficulty breathing. The Balloon began descending. Subsequently, it hit the porch of a house & was damaged. The plt died from acute myocardial…Jun 19, 1983 · N27114 · Substantial damageNTSB DEN83FTE03Accident · Serious injuriesFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 7 · Del Norte, COWhile circumnavigating snow showers at night in mountainous terrain the plt elected to make a precautionary landing on a highway. The acft struck trees on a hillside that the plt hadn't seen in the darkness.May 30, 1983 · N1516S · No damageNTSB CHI83LA134Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly AX-7 · Augusta, MIThe Balloon made a hard landing and ejected the pilot and passenger. The landing was made in a school parking lot. Afterdropping the occupants the Balloon contacted power lines with the envelope. The occurants were not injured.Mar 12, 1983 · N4057K · Substantial damage