Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 accident near Arlington, Texas, March 17, 1985
On March 17, 1985 at about 11:03 pm local time, a Balloon Works FIREFLY 7, registered N4065D, was destroyed in an accident near Arlington, Texas. 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 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
- March 17, 1985 · about 11:03 pm local time
- Place
- Arlington, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 · all FIREFLY 7s on the register
- Registration
- N4065D · no longer on the register · serial 10142
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PASSENGER, A GUST OF WIND CAUSED THE BALLOON TO BECOME AIRBORNE PREMATURELY AND DRIFT TOWARD PWR LINES. APRX 25 FT FROM THE WIRES THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF BY DEFLATING THE ENVELOPE. JUST PRIOR TO WIRE CONTACT THE PASSENGER JUMPED ABOUT 25 FT TO THE GROUND. ELECTRICAL ARCING AND EXPLODING FUEL LINES CAUSED THE BASKET TO SEPARATE AND FALL TO THE TERRAIN WITH THE PLT STILL ABOARD. THE ENVELOPE CONTINUED ITS DESCENT EVENTUALLY COMING TO REST IN A SECOND SET OF PWR LINES.
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
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 7 knots, gusting 9
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 36°F (2°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.