Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15 N9079M
5 December 1993 · Pratt, Kansas, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 5 December 1993 at about 16:00 local time, a Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15 registered N9079M, operated by Karen L. Gould, was involved in an accident near Pratt, Kansas, United States. One person was 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 16:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Pratt, Kansas, United States
- Coordinates
- 37.6391, -98.7304
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15
- Registration
- N9079M
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Karen L. Gould
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Elizabeth → Kansas City
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CHI94LA042
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM OBSTACLES. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT ARE THE PILOT'S MISJUDGED FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS AND THE WEATHER (HIGH WINDS).
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT STATED SHE WAS ATTEMPTING TO BREAK THE BALLOON FLIGHT DISTANCE RECORD ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. SHE SELECTED A DAY WITH HIGH WINDS IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL, ANTICIPATING THE WINDS WOULD DIE DOWN BY THE TIME SHE LANDED IN THE EVENING. NINE PROPANE TANKS WERE ABOARD THE BALLOON, AND THE PILOT EXPECTED TO BE ALOFT APPROXIMATELY 8 HOURS. SHE INDICATED THE ACTUAL FUEL CONSUMPTION WAS TWICE WHAT SHE HAD ANTICIPATED. WHEN SHE SWITCHED TO THE 9TH AND FINAL PROPANE TANK, THE PILOT DECIDED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. THE PILOT STATED SHE TRIED TO LEVEL OFF AT 1000 FEET, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE DESCENT. THE BASKET TOUCHED DOWN IN A FLAT, OPEN FIELD, AND THE PILOT VENTED THE BALLOON'S ENVELOPE AND SHUT OFF THE PILOT LIGHT. STILL BEING BLOWN BY SURFACE WINDS, THE ENVELOPE HIT ELECTRICAL WIRES, BROKE THE POLE, AND CONTINUED ABOUT 60 FEET BEFORE IT DEFLATED. THE PILOT ESTIMATED THE SURFACE WINDS TO BE OUT OF 350 DEGREES AT 30 KNOTS.
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 | - |
| 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 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Jul 1993 | Bombardier CL-600-2B19 | Byers, Kansas, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |
| 25 Jan 1993 | Piper PA-28-180 | Wichita, Kansas, United States | Midwest Executive Aviation Inc | Fatal | 3 |
| 15 Dec 1993 | Mitsubishi MU-300 | Goodland, Kansas, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |
| 13 Jun 1993 | Emory W Greer Jr VARI-EZE | Olathe, Kansas, United States | Emory W. Greer, JR. | Fatal | 2 |
| 30 May 1993 | Grumman G-164A | Liberal, Kansas, United States | James R. Floyd | Fatal | 1 |
| 1 Aug 1993 | Cessna 188 | Buhler, Kansas, United States | Wallace D. Cook | No injuries | - |