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April 5, 1987 · Balloon Works Firefly 6 · N3695B
Kansas City, MO
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 5, 1987
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Kansas City, MO
Aircraft
Balloon Works Firefly 6
Tail Number
N3695B
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
MKC87FA067
THE PILOT STATED THAT LIFT-OFF AND CLIMBOUT WERE NORMAL BUT, SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE FUEL PILOT LIGHT BEGAN TO FAIL CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL THE BURNER FLAMED OUT. THE PASSENGERS WERE BRIEFED AND THE CHASE VEHICLE WAS CONTACTED BY CB RADIO BEFORE THE PLT CLIMBED UP ON THE SIDE OF THE BASKET IN AN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO RE-IGNITE THE FUEL BURNER'S PILOT LIGHT. PASSENGERS STATED THAT THE PLT ORDERED THEM TO LAY ON THE FLOOR OF THE BASKET PRIOR TO IMPACT AS SHE TRIED TO ARREST THE BALLOON'S DESCENT WITH THE EMERGENCY BURNER. THE BALLOON LANDED HARD IN AN OPEN FIELD, BOUNCED, THEN SLID ON THE TURF FOR APPROX 150 FEET BEFORE SNAGGING A BARBED WIRE FENCE. A POST-CRASH FIRE ERUPTED WHEN THE BALLOON,S ENVELOPE DRAPED ACROSS POWERLINES. THE PIC STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES WERE HANDLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AIRCRAFT'S FLIGHT MANUAL.
Full Narrative
THE PILOT STATED THAT LIFT-OFF AND CLIMBOUT WERE NORMAL BUT, SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE FUEL PILOT LIGHT BEGAN TO FAIL CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL THE BURNER FLAMED OUT. THE PASSENGERS WERE BRIEFED AND THE CHASE VEHICLE WAS CONTACTED BY CB RADIO BEFORE THE PLT CLIMBED UP ON THE SIDE OF THE BASKET IN AN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO RE-IGNITE THE FUEL BURNER'S PILOT LIGHT. PASSENGERS STATED THAT THE PLT ORDERED THEM TO LAY ON THE FLOOR OF THE BASKET PRIOR TO IMPACT AS SHE TRIED TO ARREST THE BALLOON'S DESCENT WITH THE EMERGENCY BURNER. THE BALLOON LANDED HARD IN AN OPEN FIELD, BOUNCED, THEN SLID ON THE TURF FOR APPROX 150 FEET BEFORE SNAGGING A BARBED WIRE FENCE. A POST-CRASH FIRE ERUPTED WHEN THE BALLOON,S ENVELOPE DRAPED ACROSS POWERLINES. THE PIC STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES WERE HANDLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AIRCRAFT'S FLIGHT MANUAL.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:03 CST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftBalloon Works Firefly 6
Tail NumberN3695B
Aircraft CategoryBall
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines0
Engine TypeUnknown
Engine DetailsUnknown · UNKNOWN · Unknown
People & Injuries
Injury Summary2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor1
Uninjured1
Total3
Crew 1Age 33 · None
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind20° @ 6 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point50 / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO