Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B accident near Garner, North Carolina, June 11, 1989
On June 11, 1989 at about 11:17 am local time, a Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B, registered N37141, was substantially damaged in an accident near Garner, North Carolina. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS DELAY IN INITIATING A CLIMB AS THE BALLOON CONVERGED ON THE TV TOWER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 1989 · about 11:17 am local time
- Place
- Garner, North Carolina
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B · all FIREFLY 8Bs on the register
- Registration
- N37141 · no longer on the register · serial F8B-030
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 551 hours in all; 292 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 537 as pilot in command; 56 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 341 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 14, 1988; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,660 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNKNOWN (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Operator: The Balloon Plantation, INC
The flight
- Departed from: Knighdale NC at 10:12 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 am from RDU, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.