Balloon Works FIRE FLY 7 accident near Ellsworth, Kansas, July 2, 1983
On July 2, 1983 at about 12:05 pm local time, a Balloon Works FIRE FLY 7, registered N1531N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ellsworth, Kansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. 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 2, 1983 · about 12:05 pm local time
- Place
- Ellsworth, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works FIRE FLY 7 · all FIRE FLY 7s on the register
- Registration
- N1531N · no longer on the register · serial 10170
- 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 A RADIO TOWER DURING TAKEOFF. THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM 180 DEGREES AT 12-18 KTS. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THIS PLT RECEIVED WEATHER BRIEFING. THIS BALLOON WAS LAUNCHED CLOSER TO THE TOWER THAN ANY OF THE OTHER BALLOONS PARTICIPATING IN A RALLY. THE BALLOON WAS LAUNCHED ABOUT 386 FT FROM THE 175 FT TOWER AND DRIFTED INTO IT. WITNESSES STATED THAT THERE WERE NO ATTEMPTS BY THE PLT TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 405 hours in all; 7 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 361 as pilot in command; 24 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 26 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 9, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None T3-017 (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from RSL, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.