Balloon Works FIREFLY8-24 N7148P
2 July 2015 · Provo, Utah, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 2 July 2015 at about 13:00 local time, a Balloon Works FIREFLY8-24 registered N7148P, operated by Balloons West Inc, was involved in an accident near Provo, Utah, United States. 6 people were on board and one had minor injuries. 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 13:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Provo, Utah, United States
- Coordinates
- 40.2456, -111.6642
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works FIREFLY8-24
- Registration
- N7148P
- Category
- Balloon
- Year built
- 1999
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Balloons West Inc
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Provo → Provo
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- GAA15CA157
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
Probable cause
**This report was modified on 4/21/2016. Please see the public docket for this accident for more information.** The failure of the Balony balloon pilot to see and avoid the Balloon Works balloon during an ascent, which resulted in the basket of the Balony balloon colliding vertically with the envelope of the Balloon Works balloon.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
**This report was modified on 4/21/2016. Please see the public docket for this accident for more information.** The pilots of the two balloons involved in a midair collision reported that they both began the takeoff ascent as part of a competition. The Balloon Works balloon pilot, who was lower than the Balony balloon during the ascent, reported that his envelope collided vertically with the basket of the Balony balloon, about 2,000 feet above the ground. The Balony balloon pilot reported that he saw the Balloon Works balloon below him and started to use both of the available burners, but was unable to climb fast enough. A witness to the accident reported that the Balony balloon pilot did not use the balloon's burners until after the collision. After the midair collision, the Balloon Works balloon began to descend about 700 feet per minute and impacted the ground. The pilot of the Balony Balloon reported that he landed without further incident. Both of the pilots reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with their balloons or burners that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident inspection of the Balony balloon revealed no damage to the balloon or the burner. A postaccident inspection of the Balloon Works balloon revealed substantial damage to the envelope.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balloon Works FIREFLY8-24 | N7148P | Balloons West Inc | Substantial |
| Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB30Z NO SERIES | N11UW | Pivic Bruce W | - |
Other Balloon Works FIREFLY8 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Aug 2016 | Balloon Works FIREFLY8 | Northwood, New Hampshire, United States | Araho Balloon Company Inc | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Sep 2015 | Glenn Timothy C SKYSTAR SERIES 5 | Green River, Utah, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 14 Jun 2015 | Cessna 182A | Moab, Utah, United States | Skydive Canyonlands | No injuries | - |
| 9 Sep 2015 | Airbus AS350 | Draper, Utah, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 14 Feb 2015 | Cessna 150M | Layton, Utah, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 2 Aug 2015 | Schleicher ASW 20B | Logan, Utah, United States | Abbott David H | Serious injuries | - |
| 12 Jul 2015 | Robinson R22 BETA | Escalante, Utah, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |