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April 9, 2000 · Balloon Works Firefly F-15 Firefly F · N2571F

Anthony, NM

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 9, 2000
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Anthony, NM
Aircraft
Balloon Works Firefly F-15 Firefly F
Tail Number
N2571F
Operator
Marta C Pritchard
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN00LA071

Following landing, and prior to the balloon being secured to the ground, the pilot shut down the burner and the passengers egressed from the basket contrary to the pilot's instructions, which were to stay in the basket until she told them to exit. As a result of the decrease in weight, the balloon lifted off and drifted into power lines. Because the burner was shut down, the pilot had no control in the vertical plane.

NTSB Probable Cause

Failure by the pilot to keep the burner operating until the balloon was secured. A factor was the passengers disregarding the instructions they had been given by the pilot.

Full Narrative

On April 9, 2000, at 0815 mountain daylight time, a Balloon Works Firefly F-15, N2571F, sustained substantial damage at Anthony, New Mexico, when it drifted into power lines following landing. The private pilot and her two passengers were not injured. The flight was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. According to the pilot, the passengers disregarded her instructions and exited the basket before the balloon was secured following landing. The burners had been shut down and the valves placed in the off position. The pilot said that when the passengers disembarked, the decrease in weight caused the balloon to rise and it drifted into nearby power lines. The lines arced and caused fire damage to the envelope. The pilot remained in the basket until it came to rest.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:15 MDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBalloon Works Firefly F-15 Firefly F
Tail NumberN2571F
Aircraft CategoryBall
DamageSubstantial
OperatorMarta C Pritchard
Operating RulePart 91
Engine TypeUnknown
Engine DetailsUnknown
Seats0

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 45 · Unknown

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data