Balloon Works FIREFLY 6B N4052K
17 November 1985 · Englewood, Colorado, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 17 November 1985 at about 15:45 local time, a Balloon Works FIREFLY 6B registered N4052K, operated by J. Robert Pendleton, was involved in an accident near Englewood, Colorado, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.
The record
- Date
- at 15:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Englewood, Colorado, United States
- Coordinates
- 39.5800, -104.8600
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works FIREFLY 6B
- Registration
- N4052K
- Category
- Balloon
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- J. Robert Pendleton
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Englewood → Englewood
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- DEN86LA025
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Probable cause
The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.
Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PLT STATED THAT WHILE ON A BALLOON FLT, THE BLAST VALVE, WHICH OPERATES THE BURNER FLAME, STUCK OPEN DURING ONE OF THE BURNS. THE PLT ATTEMPTED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO DISENGAGE THE BLAST VALVE. WHEN THE PLT COULD NOT STOP THE FLAME WITH THE BLAST VALVE, HE MANUALLY CLOSED THE THREE PROPANE TANKS. TO LAND, THE PLT OPENED A PROPANE TANK, RELIGHTING EACH TIME HE WISHED TO MAKE A BURN. UPON LANDING, THE ENVELOPE SHIFTED OVER THE FLAME, BURNING SEVEN GORE PANELS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Balloon Works FIREFLY accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Apr 1985 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 7B | Orlando, Florida, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 3 Jul 1985 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 | Owensboro, Kentucky, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 1 Sep 1985 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 | Littleton, Colorado, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 1 Aug 1985 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8 | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 17 Mar 1985 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 | Arlington, Texas, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 29 Oct 1985 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 | Comstock Park, Michigan, United States | Mary Bobik | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Oct 1985 | Cessna T210NII | Sterling, Colorado, United States | Sterling Air Service | No injuries | - |
| 17 Nov 1985 | Champion 7KCAB | Berthoud, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Jan 1985 | Cessna 152 | Canon City, Colorado, United States | David Howard | Minor injuries | - |
| 16 Nov 1985 | Piper PA-38-112 | Ft. Collins, Colorado, United States | Mt. Flyers Aero Club | No injuries | - |
| 24 Nov 1985 | Cessna C-152 | Franktown, Colorado, United States | Aspen Flying Club | No injuries | - |
| 8 Feb 1985 | Cessna 152 | Englewood, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |