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NTSB Report
January 2, 1983 · Balloon Works Firefly 7B · N1511Y
Indianola, IA
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 2, 1983
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Indianola, IA
Aircraft
Balloon Works Firefly 7B
Tail Number
N1511Y
Operator
Denise Bowles
Injuries
Serious
NTSB Number
MKC83LA051
THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A TOUCH AND GO LANDING IN WIND THAT WAS FROM 010 DEG AT 7, GUSTING 9 KTS. DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE BASKET WAS DRIFTING AND TILTED OVER SIDEWAYS. THE PASSENGER WEITHED 290 LBS AND WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN HIS BALANCE. WHEN THE BASKET TILTED, HE FELL OUT. WITHOUT THE PASSENGER, THE BALLOON IMMEDIATELY BECAME AIRBORNE AGAIN WITH ONLY THE PILOT. THE PASSENGER TOLD THE PILOT THAT HE WAS ALRIGHT, BUT LATER, HIS ANKLE WAS FOUND TO HAVE BEEN BROKEN. THE PILOT LANDED AT THE NEXT AVAILABLE SITE WHERE THE BALLOON COULD BE RECOVERED.
Full Narrative
THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A TOUCH AND GO LANDING IN WIND THAT WAS FROM 010 DEG AT 7, GUSTING 9 KTS. DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE BASKET WAS DRIFTING AND TILTED OVER SIDEWAYS. THE PASSENGER WEITHED 290 LBS AND WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN HIS BALANCE. WHEN THE BASKET TILTED, HE FELL OUT. WITHOUT THE PASSENGER, THE BALLOON IMMEDIATELY BECAME AIRBORNE AGAIN WITH ONLY THE PILOT. THE PASSENGER TOLD THE PILOT THAT HE WAS ALRIGHT, BUT LATER, HIS ANKLE WAS FOUND TO HAVE BEEN BROKEN. THE PILOT LANDED AT THE NEXT AVAILABLE SITE WHERE THE BALLOON COULD BE RECOVERED.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:30 CST
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftBalloon Works Firefly 7B
Tail NumberN1511Y
Aircraft CategoryBall
OperatorDenise Bowles
Operating RulePart 91
Engines0
Engine TypeUnknown
Engine DetailsNONE · Unknown
People & Injuries
Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 25 · Unknown
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind10° @ 7 kt, gusting 9 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingOvercast 2500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point21 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO