Balloon Works FIREFLY-7 accident near Indianola, Iowa, August 8, 1989
On August 8, 1989 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Balloon Works FIREFLY-7, registered N2210H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Indianola, Iowa. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE TV TOWER DUE TO IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION. UNFAVORABLE WIND/WINDSHEAR AND THE TALL TOWER WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 1989 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Indianola, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works FIREFLY-7 · all FIREFLY-7s on the register
- Registration
- N2210H · registry record · serial 7738
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT SAID THE ACDNT OCCURRED WHILE HE WAS PARTICIPATING IN 'THE NATIONAL CLASSICS' WITH OTHER HOT AIR BALLOONISTS. HE STATED THAT WHILE ASCENDING, THE BALLOON ENCOUNTERED WIND SHEAR THAT TOOK IT OFF COURSE TOWARD A TALL TV TOWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE BALLOON COLLIDED WITH THE TOWER AT ABOUT THE 190 FT LEVEL, THEN IT DESCENDED UNCONTROLLABLY TO THE GROUND.
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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 39 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 31 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 104 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 4, 1989; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,640 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Indianola IA at 12:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from DSM, 15 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.