Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 N37526
7 September 1987 · Richmond, Virginia, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 7 September 1987 at about 22:30 local time, a Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 registered N37526 was involved in an accident near Richmond, Virginia, United States. 3 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.
The record
- Date
- at 22:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Richmond, Virginia, United States
- Coordinates
- 37.5103, -77.2696
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works FIREFLY 7
- Registration
- N37526
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Minor
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- BFO87LA063
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
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 BALLOON WAS 10TH TO TAKEOFF IN A HOUND-&-HARE COMPETITION. DRG FLT, THE PLT NOTICED THE WIND HAD PICKED UP & THAT THE BALLOON WAS DRIFTING TOWARDS RICHMOND. HE DECIDED TO LAND IN A CEMETERY & BRIEFED THE PASSENGERS THAT THE BALLOON WOULD TOUCH DOWN HARD & MOST LIKELY BE DRAGGED. DRG THE LANDING, ONE OF THE PASSENGERS SUSTAINED A BROKEN ANKLE. THE BALLOON DRIFTED INTO A FENCE & A POWER LINE & RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Balloon Works FIREFLY accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Mar 1987 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-B | Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 5 Oct 1987 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-B | Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States | Janet L. Hodges | No injuries | - |
| 5 Oct 1987 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 11 Feb 1987 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 | Colo. Springs, Colorado, United States | Arthur J. Walsh | Serious injuries | - |
| 12 Jul 1987 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 | Springfield, Michigan, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 26 Mar 1987 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 | Park City, Utah, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 May 1987 | Lake LA-4 | Stafford, Virginia, United States | Shelton, John W. JR. | No injuries | - |
| 22 Mar 1987 | Eagle Balloons C-7 | Montvale, Virginia, United States | Above the Rest, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 30 May 1987 | Ham WIZARD | Chesapeake, Virginia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 23 Sep 1987 | Bennetter-Stevens STARDUSTER | Roanoke, Virginia, United States | Larry T. Hubbard | No injuries | - |
| 6 Jul 1987 | Grumman AA-5B | Abingdon, Virginia, United States | Charles D. Griffard | Fatal | 1 |
| 18 Jul 1987 | Aeronca 7AC | Saluda, Virginia, United States | Carl J. Prater | No injuries | - |