Barnes FIREFLY 7 accident near Flint, Michigan, June 2, 1984
On June 2, 1984, a Barnes FIREFLY 7 (balloon), registered N15271, was substantially damaged in an accident near Flint, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. 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
- June 2, 1984
- Place
- Flint, Michigan
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Barnes FIREFLY 7
- Registration
- N15271 · no longer on the register · serial 10147
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE BALLOONIST STATED THAT THE WIND BECAME STRONGER DURING HER FLT AND EVEN THOUGH SHE SELECTED A LANDING AREA ADEQUATE FOR A HIGH WIND LANDING THE BALLOON WAS DRAGGED ABOUT 200 FT UNTIL THE ENVELOPE BECAME ENTANGLED IN TREES. THE FLT LASTED ABOUT 1 HOUR AND 10 MINUTES. THE PLT STATED THAT THE WIND AT TOUCHDOWN WAS 10 TO 20 KTS.
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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 28 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 19 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 183 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 21, 1984; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Davison MI at 11:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 14 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:52 pm from FNT
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.