NTSB investigations: Balloon Works FIREFLY 7, 1985

8 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, 1985 per year, 1978–2026: 90 cases
19786
19796
198010
19811
198211
19839
19847
19858
19866
19875
19883
19893
19912
19932
19941
19953
19961
19971
19982
19991
20071
20171

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\") = 1985
    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 CHI86LA018Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 7 · Comstock Park, MIAccording to the pilot she received wind information from a flight service station, the noaa and ATIS approximately 1.5 hours prior to takeoff. All these sources predicted winds to be less than 7 knots. Winds were 'very light' during Balloon inflation. The…Oct 29, 1985 · N4056L · Substantial damageNTSB DEN85LA234Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 7 · Littleton, COThe plt attempted to land his Balloon in high winds resulting a hard ldg which threw him out of the basket the Balloon then began an immediate asent until a pax pulled the vent line and the Balloon settled rapidly until it hit the grd. Injuries to passengers…Sep 1, 1985 · N2259H · No damageNTSB MKC85LA185Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 7 · Shawnee, KSThe commercial Balloon plt was giving a ride to three paying passengers. Plt stated that during the landing apch higher than normal winds were present so he briefed the passengers to lean against the side of the basket. He stated that he pulled the deflation…Aug 11, 1985 · N40468 · No damageNTSB DEN85FA196Accident · Serious injuriesField investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 7 · Brighton, COA hot air Balloon owned and flown by the plt collided with electrical power lines during an attempted landing. The basket of the Balloon caught fire upon contact with the wires. The occupants leaped from the burning basket sustaining serious injuries. The…Jul 23, 1985 · N40501 · DestroyedNTSB ATL85LA204Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 7 · Owensboro, KYPilot launched Balloon from college campus with two pax. Flew for 35 minutes. During flight he radioed ground crew which was at landing site. During descent pilot saw utility wires previously unnoticed. Parachute was ventd to increase descent rate and avoid…Jul 3, 1985 · N1534C · Substantial damageNTSB CHI85FEE02Accident · Serious injuriesFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly AX-7 · Somonauk, ILThe Balloon collided with powerlines during takeoff. The wind was reported as 10-15 mph with gusts. The operation was canceled due to the wind after 6 successful launches. The last plt was reportedly pressured to go by his pass'g and a gust of wind blew them…Jun 18, 1985 · N40532 · Substantial damageNTSB ATL85LLT07Accident · Serious injuriesFinal reportBarnes FF-7 · Franklin, TNThe plt noticed a power line extending across the field he had selected for landing at which time air was released from the envelope for an emergency descent. As the basket touched down, the envelope drifted into the line. A passenger was seriously injuried…May 8, 1985 · N4049Y · Minor damageNTSB FTW85LA153Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 7 · Arlington, TXAccording to the passenger, a gust of wind caused the Balloon to become airborne prematurely and drift toward pwr lines. Aprx 25 ft from the wires the plt attempted to abort the takeoff by deflating the envelope. Just prior to wire contact the passenger…Mar 17, 1985 · N4065D · Destroyed