Balloon Works FIREFLY-7 N4058A
9 October 1993 · Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 9 October 1993 at about 15:28 local time, a Balloon Works FIREFLY-7 registered N4058A was involved in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 15:28
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
- Coordinates
- 35.1804, -106.5904
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works FIREFLY-7
- Registration
- N4058A
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW94FA008
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE P[ILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION TO ATTEMPT CONTINUED FLIGHT UNDER THE EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS. THE ADVERSE WIND WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WITNESSES SAID THE BALLOON'S ENVELOPE WAS 'DISTORTED', 'PANCAKED', AND APPEARED TO 'FILL WITH AIR AND DEFLATE RAPIDLY.' THE BASKET WAS SEEN 'TURNING AND SWINGING.' WITNESSES SAID THE BALLOON WAS ABOVE THE POWER LINES, AND THE PILOT ACTIVATED THE BURNER IN AN ATTEMPT TO ASCEND. INSTEAD, IT DESCENDED RAPIDLY INTO THE LINES 'AS IF BEING PUSHED FROM ABOVE.' AFTER CONTACTING THE WIRES, THE BASKET FELL TO THE GROUND AND THE ENVELOPE DRIFTED AWAY. SURFACE WINDS WERE ESTIMATED AT 10-20 KTS. ONE PILOT WITNESS EXPERIENCED A WIND SHEAR INDUCED HARD LANDING ABOUT 30 MIN PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THERE WERE MULTIPLE OTHER HARD LANDINGS REPORTED THAT MORNING.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Balloon Works FIREFLY accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Jun 1993 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 | Salida, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 5 Dec 1993 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15 | Pratt, Kansas, United States | Karen L. Gould | No injuries | - |
| 2 Jan 1993 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15 | Orlando, Florida, United States | Garrett, Ronald L. | Minor injuries | - |
| 11 Jul 1993 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B | Flemington, New Jersey, United States | Looking Up Advertising, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 13 May 1994 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-B | Burlington, North Carolina, United States | Carter, William A. | No injuries | - |
| 29 Oct 1994 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 | Nashua, New Hampshire, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Feb 1993 | Piper PA-28-180 | Magdalena, New Mexico, United States | Klungle, Robert L. | Serious injuries | - |
| 18 Feb 1993 | Cessna 340A | Clovis, New Mexico, United States | Omega Associates PA | No injuries | - |
| 1 Oct 1993 | Bell 204-B | Cedar Crest, New Mexico, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 27 Nov 1993 | Cessna 172N | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | Peacock Flying Service | No injuries | - |
| 8 Mar 1993 | Cessna 180J | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | George H. Burk | No injuries | - |
| 11 Mar 1993 | Mistretta CHALLENGER II | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | Mistretta, Charles J. | No injuries | - |