Balloon Works FIREFLY N7406F
31 August 1989 · Hatboro, Pennsylvania, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 31 August 1989 at about 23:20 local time, a Balloon Works FIREFLY registered N7406F, operated by John W. Edling, was involved in an accident near Hatboro, Pennsylvania, United States. 5 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 3 had minor injuries. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 23:20
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Hatboro, Pennsylvania, United States
- Coordinates
- 40.1691, -75.1001
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works FIREFLY
- Registration
- N7406F
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- John W. Edling
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- North Wales → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Minor
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Dusk
- NTSB number
- NYC89LA212
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
Probable cause
IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE OBSTRUCTIONS. A RELATED FACTOR WAS: THE LOW LEVEL OF PROPANE (FUEL), WHICH RESULTED IN LOW BURNER PRESSURE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE BALLOON DEPARTED ON A PLEASURE FLT WITH 4 PASSENGERS ABOARD. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED FROM THE SOUTHEAST AT 5 KTS, VISIBILITY WAS UNLIMITED & THE TEMP WAS 72 DEGS. ABOUT 30 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT DISCOVERED THE #2 PROPANE TANK WAS EMPTY. HE IMMEDIATELY SWITCHED TO THE #1 RESERVE TANK. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND IN AN APPROPRIATE LANDING SPOT, THE BURNER PRESSURE DROPPED & THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO AVOID POWERLINES. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE GONDOLA CONTACTED & CAME TO REST ON THE POWERLINES. THE PLT WAS ABLE TO DISLODGE THE GONDOLA, BUT IT FELL TO THE GROUND & ONE PASSENGER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED; THE OTHER PASSENGERS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Balloon Works FIREFLY accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Nov 1989 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Richard K. Tanner | Minor injuries | - |
| 6 Aug 1989 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B | Louisville, Colorado, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 11 Jun 1989 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B | Garner, North Carolina, United States | The Balloon Plantation, Inc | Fatal | 3 |
| 5 Aug 1989 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 6B | Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 8 Aug 1989 | Balloon Works FIREFLY-7 | Indianola, Iowa, United States | Reinert, Michael P. | Minor injuries | - |
| 18 Jul 1988 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 | Saltsburg, Pennsylvania, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Jul 1989 | Cessna 150L | Doylestown, Pennsylvania, United States | Gull Aviation, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 23 Jul 1989 | Schweizer 1-23 | Eighty Four, Pennsylvania, United States | Bruno Cerceo | Serious injuries | - |
| 29 Jul 1989 | Cessna 172 | Mt Pleasant, Pennsylvania, United States | Milton R. Barclay | No injuries | - |
| 2 Aug 1989 | Schweizer 269C | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | Atlantic Leasing SER., Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 10 Aug 1989 | Grumman AA-5 | Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, United States | Jess Baker | No injuries | - |
| 20 Aug 1989 | Ryan ST-3KR | Factoryville, Pennsylvania, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |