Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B N7113E
11 July 1993 · Flemington, New Jersey, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 11 July 1993 at about 00:20 local time, a Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B registered N7113E, operated by Looking Up Advertising, Inc., was involved in an accident near Flemington, New Jersey, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. 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 00:20
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Flemington, New Jersey, United States
- Nearest airport
- None
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B
- Registration
- N7113E
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Looking Up Advertising, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Frenchtown → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Dusk
- NTSB number
- BFO93LA118
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
THE PASSENGER'S INADVERTENT ACTIVATION OF THE BURNER AFTER THE LANDING, CAUSING THE TERRAIN TO BURN AND SUBSEQUENTLY IGNITING THE BALLOON ENVELOPE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
DURING AN UNEVENTFUL 45 MINUTE BALLOON FLIGHT, A LONG DRAG LANDING WAS MADE ONTO A HAY FIELD. NEAR THE END OF THE DRAG LANDING, THE BALLOON FLATTENED OUT SPREAD ACROSS THE STUBBLE OF THE HAY FIELD. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE PASSENGER INADVERTENTLY ACTIVATED THE BURNER WHILE EXITING THE GONDOLA. THE FLAMES FROM THE BURNER IGNITED THE STUBBLE UNDERNEATH THE ENVELOPE, SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSING THE ENVELOPE TO BURN.
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 | - |
| 9 Oct 1993 | Balloon Works FIREFLY-7 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 May 1993 | American General AG5B | Princeton, New Jersey, United States | Raritan Valley Flying School | Minor injuries | - |
| 9 May 1993 | Hockenbury BOWERS FLY BABY | Peapack, New Jersey, United States | Peter Hockenbury | Minor injuries | - |
| 10 May 1993 | Cessna 172P | Pittstown, New Jersey, United States | Royal Karina Air Service Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 21 Jul 1993 | Beatty GLASAIR SH-2 | Cape May, New Jersey, United States | Eugene J. Beatty | Serious injuries | - |
| 28 Mar 1993 | Piper PA-23-250 | Elmwood Park, New Jersey, United States | Alan B. Fleischman | Fatal | 6 |
| 30 Jul 1993 | North American AT-6 | Matawan, New Jersey, United States | Bi-Plane Adventure Tours Inc. | No injuries | - |