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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

July 19, 2008 · Firefly 7-15 · N2131Y

Jamestown, RI

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 19, 2008
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury), 2 uninjured
Location
Jamestown, RI
Aircraft
Firefly 7-15
Tail Number
N2131Y
Injuries
Serious
NTSB Number
MIA08CA146

The balloon pilot was not able to land at the intended site because he did not descend quickly enough. He continued flying while searching for an alternate landing location. He located a suitable landing area and started another descent. He then observed electrical power lines off to the side and advised his two passengers to prepare for a hard landing. The pilot induced a rapid descent to avoid the powers lines and the balloon landed hard. During the hard landing, one of the passengers suffered a serious foot injury.

NTSB Probable Cause

Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Descent rate-Incorrect use/operation - C

Full Narrative

The pilot of the Firefly 7-15 balloon stated that he was departing Richmond Airport (08R), West Kingston, Rhode Island, for the athletic field at the University of Rhode Island, where a balloon festival was taking place. After departing 08R with two passengers on a commercial sightseeing flight, he followed the path of several other balloons towards the athletic field. The pilot descended towards his intended landing target, but did not descend quickly enough and drifted past it to the south. He looked for alternate landing sites, but was unable to find one that was suitable. After crossing half of Narragansett Bay, and while running low on fuel, the pilot attempted to land in a small field in Jamestown. As he was descending he noticed power lines off to one side of the landing site. In order to avoid them, he descended quickly and instructed the passengers to bend their knees for impact. The balloon landed hard while avoiding the power lines. The balloon incurred no damage and one of the passengers suffered a serious foot injury.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time07:45 EDT
Nearest AirportQuonset State Airport (6nm)
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftFirefly 7-15
Tail NumberN2131Y
Aircraft CategoryBall
Operating RulePart 91
Engines0
Seats0

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury), 2 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total3
Crew 1Age 55 · None · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind250° @ 6 kt
Visibility3 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter29.97 inHg
Observation Time15:42
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data