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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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July 16, 1985 · Balloon Works Firefly 6B · N1533S

Battle Creek, MI

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 16, 1985
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury), 2 uninjured
Location
Battle Creek, MI
Aircraft
Balloon Works Firefly 6B
Tail Number
N1533S
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI85LA291

THE ENVELOPE OF BALLOON N1533S WAS PENETRATED AND TORN BY THE BASKET OF BALLOON I-FROG. THE ENVELOPE WAS DAMAGED TO THE DEGREE THAT ALTITUDE COULD NOT BE SUSTAINED. THE AERONQUT OF N1533S WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED UPON GROUND IMPACT. I-FROG WAS LANDED WITHOUT DAMAGE OR INJURY.

Full Narrative

THE ENVELOPE OF BALLOON N1533S WAS PENETRATED AND TORN BY THE BASKET OF BALLOON I-FROG. THE ENVELOPE WAS DAMAGED TO THE DEGREE THAT ALTITUDE COULD NOT BE SUSTAINED. THE AERONQUT OF N1533S WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED UPON GROUND IMPACT. I-FROG WAS LANDED WITHOUT DAMAGE OR INJURY.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:50 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBalloon Works Firefly 6B
Tail NumberN1533S
Aircraft CategoryBall
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines0
Engine TypeUnknown
Engine DetailsNone · NONE · Unknown | None · NONE · Unknown

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury), 2 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total3
Crew 1Age 38 · None
Crew 2Age 28 · Unknown

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind300° @ 3 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point50
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data