Summary
On July 05, 1997, a Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 (N1527B) was involved in an incident near Columbia, MO. All 3 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's failure to properly judge the landing approach. The proximity of transmission wires was a related factor.
On July 4, 1997, at 2015 central daylight time, a Balloon Works Firefly 7, N1527B, piloted by a commercial pilot, collided with an electrical power transmission line during landing. The balloon envelope suffered substantial damage from resulting fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and two passengers reported no injuries.
This incident is documented in NTSB report CHI97LA207. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N1527B.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the pilot's failure to properly judge the landing approach. The proximity of transmission wires was a related factor.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On July 4, 1997, at 2015 central daylight time, a Balloon Works Firefly 7, N1527B, piloted by a commercial pilot, collided with an electrical power transmission line during landing. The balloon envelope suffered substantial damage from resulting fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and two passengers reported no injuries. The flight departed Columbia, Missouri , 1945 central daylight time, for a local flight.
In a written statement by the pilot in command, he stated that during the final landing phase, "descent rate was to fast, was not going to clear power lines, valved to hit at envelope rather than the basket." The pilot reported that the occupants stayed in the basket until the ground crew confirmed that the envelope had been separated from the power lines. The pilot stated that he, "noticed several area's of smoldering fire in the envelope, and put out fire with fire extinguishers." Subsequently after the accident, the pilot reported that he should have, "waited longer for wind to go down or for a larger landing area." The wind, observed by the Columbia automated surface observation system, was indicated at six knots.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CHI97LA207