Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15 N25756
9 December 1995 · Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 9 December 1995 at about 22:03 local time, a Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15 registered N25756 was involved in an accident near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 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 22:03
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
- Coordinates
- 35.4508, -97.5701
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15
- Registration
- N25756
- 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
- FTW96FA063
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance during low altitude straight and level flight.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
Witnesses observed the balloon drift across an interstate highway in level flight and impact a high voltage (138kV) power line. As the balloon's basket came into contact with the current carrying wires, 'a blinding blue-white flash of electricity' was followed by an explosion. The basket and envelope caught fire, and the balloon then ascended to 100 to 150 feet AGL before the suspension ropes burned through and the basket separated from the envelope. Examination revealed that one of the balloon's three propane tanks was ruptured and a dime-sized hole opposite the ruptured section appeared to be the result of arcing. Evidence of arcing was also noted on the skirt ring and the burner shield. Functional testing and disassembly of the burner revealed no evidence of any pre-impact mechanical discrepancies. Toxicological testing detected small amounts of fenfluramine and phentermine in the pilot's blood and liver fluid. Neither of these medications is approved by the FAA for use while flying.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Balloon Works FIREFLY accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Jul 1995 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 | Littleton, Colorado, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 2 Sep 1995 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 | Colorado Spgs, Colorado, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 6 Aug 1995 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 | Owego, New York, United States | - | Serious 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 | - |
| 14 May 1996 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15 | Ft. Lupton, Colorado, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Jun 1995 | Beechcraft 35 | Kingston, Oklahoma, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 27 Dec 1995 | Meyers MY-200A | Madill, Oklahoma, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Feb 1995 | Rockwell 690A | Guthrie, Oklahoma, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 2 Mar 1995 | Cessna 208B | Ardmore, Oklahoma, United States | Martinaire Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 25 Apr 1995 | Bell 47D1 | Ardmore, Oklahoma, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 16 Jul 1995 | Cessna 182L | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States | - | No injuries | - |