Balloon Works FIREFLY AX-7 accident near Somonauk, Illinois, June 18, 1985
On June 18, 1985 at about 1:15 am local time, a Balloon Works FIREFLY AX-7, registered N40532, was substantially damaged in an accident near Somonauk, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries. 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 18, 1985 · about 1:15 am local time
- Place
- Somonauk, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works FIREFLY AX-7 FIREFLY AX
- Registration
- N40532 · no longer on the register · serial 10090
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE BALLOON COLLIDED WITH POWERLINES DURING TAKEOFF. THE WIND WAS REPORTED AS 10-15 MPH WITH GUSTS. THE OPERATION WAS CANCELED DUE TO THE WIND AFTER 6 SUCCESSFUL LAUNCHES. THE LAST PLT WAS REPORTEDLY PRESSURED TO GO BY HIS PASS'G AND A GUST OF WIND BLEW THEM INTO THE WIRES. ONE PERSON WAS THROWN FROM THE BASKET DURING THE COLLISION AND SUFFERED BROKEN BONES IN HIS ARMS AND RIBS. THE OTHER 3 HAD JUMPED AS INSTRUCTED BY THE PLT AND ESCAPED INJURY.
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: 215 hours in all; 215 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 199 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,466 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 25, 1985; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,660 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None NONE (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Somonauk IL at 1:10 am
- Destination: C48 Sandwich IL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 260° at 11 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.