Balloon Works FIRE FLY 7 accident near Keller, Texas, February 23, 1986
On February 23, 1986 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Balloon Works FIRE FLY 7, registered N2269H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Keller, Texas. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 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
- February 23, 1986 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Keller, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works FIRE FLY 7 · all FIRE FLY 7s on the register
- Registration
- N2269H · registry record · serial 7759
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE BALLOON DESCENDED INTO A POWER LINE DURING LANDING AT A MOBILE HOME PARK. THE PLT SAID THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE WIRES UNTIL THEY WERE SILHOUETTED AGAINST THE HORIZON. HE THEN TRIED TO EXPEDITE THE VENTING OF HOT AIR FROM THE ENVELOPE TO GO UNDER THE WIRES. THE ENVELOPE WAS TOO CLOSE AND AS CONTACT OCCURRED THE BASKET FELL TO THE GROUND. THE BALLOON ENVELOPE WAS MELTED AND TORN BY THE COLLISION.
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: 520 hours in all; 520 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 507 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 407 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 30, 1985; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 600 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None NONE (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Forth Worth TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.