Firefly GALAXY 9 N2200Z
25 September 2004 · Lewisburg, West Virginia, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 25 September 2004 at about 22:30 local time, a Firefly GALAXY 9 registered N2200Z was involved in an accident near Lewisburg, West Virginia, United States. 7 people were on board and one died. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 22:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Lewisburg, West Virginia, United States
- Coordinates
- 37.7814, -80.4567
- Aircraft
- Firefly GALAXY 9
- Registration
- N2200Z
- Category
- Balloon
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Lewisburg → Lewisburg
- Aircraft damage
- Minor
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Dusk
- NTSB number
- NYC04LA217
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Probable cause
The pilot's improper decision to attempt to board the balloon while it was ascending.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
After landing in a field, six passengers and the pilot exited the hot-air balloon. Shortly after, an airplane flew "very low" over the top of the balloon, and the balloon began to ascend. The pilot stated that he "knew a trick," and proceeded to wrap a rope around his leg, as the balloon continued to ascend. As it reached an altitude of about 80 feet, the pilot fell from the rope, which was hanging from the basket.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Sep 2004 | Cessna 402C | Charleston, West Virginia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Dec 2004 | Smith Ted Aerostar 601P | Wheeling, West Virginia, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 8 Aug 2004 | Giles MUSTANG II | Rainelle, West Virginia, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 16 Feb 2004 | Piper PA-34-200 | Davis, West Virginia, United States | Book-A-Plane.com | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jul 2004 | Beechcraft 35 | Morgantown, West Virginia, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 10 Nov 2004 | Champion 7EC | Clarksburg, West Virginia, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |