Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 N4070W
19 November 1989 · Las Vegas, Nevada, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 19 November 1989 at about 17:30 local time, a Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 registered N4070W, operated by Richard K. Tanner, was involved in an accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. 3 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 17:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
- Coordinates
- 36.2099, -115.1206
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works FIREFLY 7
- Registration
- N4070W
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Richard K. Tanner
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA90LA032
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT OF THE RAVEN RX7, N5710Y, FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CONTROL TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH THE FIREFLY 7, N4070W, AND BOTH PILOTS DID NOT MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM EACH OTHER DURING THE PRACTICE MANEUVER.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
DURING A PRACTICE MANEUVER FOR A RIBBON RACE, BOTH BALLOONS ASCENDED SIMULTANEOUSLY TO AN ALTITUDE OF 200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND TO A POSITION 60 FEET APART. THE RAVEN RX7, N5710Y, SUDDENLY ROSE, AND THE BASKET COLLIDED WITH THE UPPER ENVELOPE OF THE FIREFLY 7, N4070W, RESULTING IN A 10 FT RIP. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 FIREFLY 7 | N4070W | Richard K. Tanner | Substantial |
| Raven RALLY RX7 RALLY RX7 | N5710Y | - | - |
Other Balloon Works FIREFLY accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Aug 1989 | Balloon Works FIREFLY | Hatboro, Pennsylvania, United States | John W. Edling | Serious 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Nov 1989 | Piper PA-32-300 | Boulder City, Nevada, United States | Bellis, James E. | No injuries | - |
| 27 Jan 1989 | Piper PA-23-160 | Carson City, Nevada, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 29 Jan 1989 | Aeronca O-58B | Minden, Nevada, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 23 Feb 1989 | Mooney M20K | Incline Village, Nevada, United States | Performance Aircraft, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 2 Apr 1989 | Cessna 172P | Hawthorne, Nevada, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 14 Jan 1989 | Cessna 210 | Carson City, Nevada, United States | - | No injuries | - |