Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 and Raven S55A mid-air collision near Springfield, Michigan, July 12, 1987
On July 12, 1987 at about 12:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 (N1505F) and Raven S55A (N40363), were involved in a mid-air collision near Springfield, Michigan. 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 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
- July 12, 1987 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- Springfield, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 · all FIREFLY 7s on the register
- Registration
- N1505F · no longer on the register · serial 11150
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Raven S55A · all S55As on the register
- Registration
- N40363 · registry record · serial S-55A-851
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 final · quoted from the NTSB record
TWO HOT AIR BALLOONS WERE INVOLVED IN A MIDAIR COLLISION DURING A SANCTIONED BALLOON COMPETITION. N40363 WAS ABLE TO RETAIN CONTROL AND LANDED UNEVENTFULLY. N1505F PARTIALLY DEFLATED AND DESCENDED OUT OF CONTROL TO THE GROUND. WITNESSES STATED THAT N40363 WAS THE HIGHER OF THE TWO BALLOONS AND APPEARED TO BE DESCENDING. N1505F WAS RISING AND MOVING OVER THE GROUND AT A FASTER RATE. THE GONDOLA OF N40363 CONTACTED THE ENVELOPE OF N1505F AND RIPPED A PORTION OF THE FABRIC. THE PILOT/PASSENGER OF N1505F REPORTED THAT THE PILOT, UPON CONTACT WITH N40363, PULLED THE EMERGENCY RIP PANEL, TURNED OFF THE PROPANE, AND BEGAN TO PREPARE FOR A HARD LANDING. BOTH PILOTS CLAIMED THE OTHER PILOT HAD VIOLATED CONTEST GUIDELINES.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Raven S55A final · quoted from the NTSB record
TWO HOT AIR BALLOONS WERE INVOLVED IN A MIDAIR COLLISION DURING A SANCTIONED BALLOON COMPETITION. N40363 WAS ABLE TO RETAIN CONTROL AND LANDED UNEVENTFULLY. N1505F PARTIALLY DEFLATED AND DESCENDED OUT OF CONTROL TO THE GROUND. WITNESSES STATED THAT N40363 WAS THE HIGHER OF THE TWO BALLOONS AND APPEARED TO BE DESCENDING. N1505F WAS RISING AND MOVING OVER THE GROUND AT A FASTER RATE. THE GONDOLA OF N40363 CONTACTED THE ENVELOPE OF N1505F AND RIPPED A PORTION OF THE FABRIC. THE PILOT/PASSENGER OF N1505F REPORTED THAT THE PILOT, UPON CONTACT WITH N40363, PULLED THE EMERGENCY RIP PANEL, TURNED OFF THE PROPANE, AND BEGAN TO PREPARE FOR A HARD LANDING. BOTH PILOTS CLAIMED THE OTHER PILOT HAD VIOLATED CONTEST GUIDELINES.
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 for the Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 790 hours in all; 469 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 725 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 116 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BTL Battle Creek MI at 11:45 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 am from BTL, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Raven S55A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 307 hours in all; 307 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,049 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 10, 1987; 207 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,435 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BTL Battle Creek MI at 11:45 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.