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NTSB Report
July 27, 1984 · Balloon Works FIRE FLY 8-24 FIRE FLY 8 · N27046
Yountville, CA
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 27, 1984
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury), 4 uninjured
Location
Yountville, CA
Aircraft
Balloon Works FIRE FLY 8-24 FIRE FLY 8
Tail Number
N27046
Injuries
Serious
NTSB Number
LAX84LA425
THE INITIAL LANDING WAS IN AN AREA OF LIMITED ACCESS AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE FLIGHT OVER A TREE LINE TO A NEARBY MORE SUITABLE FIELD. IN ORDER TO AVOID BEING CARRIED INTO A SECOND DOWNWIND TREE LINE, THE PLT DESCENDED THE BALLOON INTO THE FIELD AT A HIGHER THAN NORMAL RATE. PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN THE PLT CAUTIONED THE PASSENGERS THAT THEY WERE GOING TO 'HIT HARD.' A 75 YEAR OLD PASSENGER SUFFERED A BROKEN RIB. THE PLT STATED THAT SHE NEVER BRIEFS THE PASSENGERS BEFORE THE FLIGHT ON WHAT TYPE OF LANDING TO EXPECT OR THE POSSIBLE HAZARD OF GETTING HURT DURING THE LANDING.
Full Narrative
THE INITIAL LANDING WAS IN AN AREA OF LIMITED ACCESS AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE FLIGHT OVER A TREE LINE TO A NEARBY MORE SUITABLE FIELD. IN ORDER TO AVOID BEING CARRIED INTO A SECOND DOWNWIND TREE LINE, THE PLT DESCENDED THE BALLOON INTO THE FIELD AT A HIGHER THAN NORMAL RATE. PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN THE PLT CAUTIONED THE PASSENGERS THAT THEY WERE GOING TO 'HIT HARD.' A 75 YEAR OLD PASSENGER SUFFERED A BROKEN RIB. THE PLT STATED THAT SHE NEVER BRIEFS THE PASSENGERS BEFORE THE FLIGHT ON WHAT TYPE OF LANDING TO EXPECT OR THE POSSIBLE HAZARD OF GETTING HURT DURING THE LANDING.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:30 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftBalloon Works FIRE FLY 8-24 FIRE FLY 8
Tail NumberN27046
Aircraft CategoryBall
Operating RulePart 91
Engine TypeUnknown
Engine DetailsUnknown
Seats1
People & Injuries
Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury), 4 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured4
Total5
Crew 1Age 35 · None
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind315° @ 3 kt, gusting 5 kt
Visibility30 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO