Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B N7420S

Summary

On 4 July 1988 at about 13:40 local time, a Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B registered N7420S, operated by W Sebastian & Co, was involved in an accident near Fort Collins, Colorado, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

4 July 1988 at 13:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Fort Collins, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

40.5904, -105.1307

Aircraft

Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B

Registration

N7420S

Category

Balloon

Operator

W Sebastian & Co

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN88LA152

1 person was seriously injured.

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

THIS BALLOON FLT WAS PART OF A RALLY. THE FLT DEPARTED FROM A STADIUM, CLIMBED TO 500' AND THEN MADE A CONTROLLED DESCENT AND LANDING. AFTER THE NEXT TAKEOFF AND CLIMB TO ABOUT 125' WHEN THE BURNER WAS TURNED OFF THE PLT NOTICED THAT FUEL WAS NOT FLOWING TO THE PLT LIGHT. WHILE ATTEMPTING CORRECTIVE ACTION THE BALLOON COOLED AND BEGAN TO DESCEND. THE BALLOON WAS DRIFTING TOWARD POWERLINES AND UPON REACHING 50 TO 75' AGL, THE PLT DECIDED TO OPEN THE VENT FULL AND MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING. DURING THE LANDING THE BALLOON DRAPED OVER A FENCE AND THE PASSENGER SUFFERED A BROKEN ANKLE. THE PILOT STATED THAT IT IS LIKELY SHE INADVERTENTLY BUMPED THE PILOT LIGHT VALVE WHILE WORKING THE MAIN FUEL VALVE. SHE REPORTED THAT AFTER THE ACCIDENT BOTH THE MAIN AND PILOT FUEL SYSTEMS WERE CHECKED AND FOUND OK.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.