Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 N4051L
19 October 1991 · Webster, New Hampshire, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 19 October 1991 at about 13:15 local time, a Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 registered N4051L, operated by Mary ANN Lappies, was involved in an accident near Webster, New Hampshire, United States. 5 people were on board and one had minor injuries. One person on the ground also died. 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 13:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Webster, New Hampshire, United States
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works FIREFLY 7
- Registration
- N4051L
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Mary ANN Lappies
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC92LA010
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured | On the ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Probable cause
FAILURE OF THE GROUND CREWMAN (FROM ANOTHER BALLOON) TO RECOGNIZE THE HAZARDOUS CONDITION THAT EXISTED, WHEN THE BALLOON CAME IN CONTACT WITH A HIGH VOLTAGE POWER LINE DURING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING, THE PROXIMITY OF THE POWER LINE, FAILURE OF THE BALLOON PILOT TO REMAIN CLEAR OF THE POWER LINE, AND THE GROUND CREWMAN'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY COMMUNICATE WITH THE BALLOON PILOT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WITH LOW FUEL, THE PLT MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LND IN A CONFINED AREA, NEXT TO A 34,500 VOLT PWR LINE. THE PLT SAID A GND CREWMAN GRABBED THE BASKET PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, AND SHE WAS NOT AWARE OF HIS PRESENCE. THE DEFLATING BALLOON ENVELOPE CONTACTED THE PWR LINE AND CURRENT FLOWED DOWN THE TEMPERATURE SENSING LINE BETWEEN THE TOP OF THE ENVELOPE AND THE BASKET. THE GND CREWMAN WAS FATALLY ELECTROCUTED AND HIS 12 YEAR OLD SON RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE GND CREWMAN WAS FROM ANOTHER BALLOON CREW WHICH HAD ALREADY LANDED; HE WAS NOT IN RADIO CONTACT WITH THE PLT OF N4051L
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Balloon Works FIREFLY accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jun 1991 | Balloon Works FIREFLY-7B | Greenwood, Missouri, United States | Karmen W. Goosey | Fatal | - |
| 7 Sep 1991 | Balloon Works FIREFLY X-7 | Altoona, Iowa, United States | King, Gary D. | Serious injuries | - |
| 26 Nov 1990 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8-24 | Poway, California, United States | Kimberly Lynch | Serious injuries | - |
| 7 Aug 1990 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8 | Napa, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 7 Aug 1990 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 9 | Napa, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 29 Sep 1990 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 9 | Vacaville, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jul 1991 | Cessna L-19 | Franconia, New Hampshire, United States | Stanley Parker, JR. | No injuries | - |
| 1 Aug 1991 | Piper PA-12 | Alton, New Hampshire, United States | William Grahn | No injuries | - |
| 25 Aug 1991 | Grumman AA5B | Hampton, New Hampshire, United States | Richard Laflamme | No injuries | - |
| 3 Aug 1991 | Laurent A Cloutier BD-5B | Gilford, New Hampshire, United States | Laurent A. Cloutier | Minor injuries | - |
| 29 Sep 1991 | North American T-6G | Manchester, New Hampshire, United States | Albert Costa | No injuries | - |
| 6 Sep 1991 | Homebuilt AVID FLYER | Keene, New Hampshire, United States | Joseph T. Kohler | No injuries | - |