Barnes FF-7 accident near Franklin, Tennessee, May 8, 1985
On May 8, 1985 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Barnes FF-7 (balloon), registered N4049Y, suffered minor damage in an accident near Franklin, Tennessee. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 1985 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Franklin, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Barnes FF-7
- Registration
- N4049Y · no longer on the register · serial 7926
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT NOTICED A POWER LINE EXTENDING ACROSS THE FIELD HE HAD SELECTED FOR LANDING AT WHICH TIME AIR WAS RELEASED FROM THE ENVELOPE FOR AN EMERGENCY DESCENT. AS THE BASKET TOUCHED DOWN, THE ENVELOPE DRIFTED INTO THE LINE. A PASSENGER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURIED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHOCK FROM THE POWER LINE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 795 hours in all; 795 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 785 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 5, 1985; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None NONE (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.