Balloon Works FIREFLY 7B-15 accident near Columbia, Missouri, August 10, 1997
On August 10, 1997 at about 11:55 pm local time, a Balloon Works FIREFLY 7B-15, registered N90755, was involved in an accident near Columbia, Missouri. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper planning/decision. The unfavorable wind was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 1997 · about 11:55 pm local time
- Place
- Columbia, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works FIREFLY 7B-15 FIREFLY 7B · all FIREFLY 7B-15s on the register
- Registration
- N90755 · registry record · serial F7B-358
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, there were three weather briefings prior to the flight. The last briefing indicated that the approaching cold front had dissipated, and that calm winds were expected to remain. The pilot briefed his passenger on hard landing techniques prior to launching with approximately 10-15 other balloons. Nearly 30 minutes into the flight, the wind shifted 180 degrees and accelerated. The pilot elected to descent for a landing in a field. During the landing sequence, one corner of the basket contacted the ground, causing the basket to pirouette onto one side. At this time, the passenger's foot became caught between the propane tank and the basket causing an ankle fracture.
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: 196 hours in all; 196 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 190 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 76 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 6, 1997; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MO at 11:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 6 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.