Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 accident near Red Creek, New York, May 14, 1988
On May 14, 1988 at about 11:05 pm local time, a Balloon Works FIREFLY 7, registered N1502K, was involved in an accident near Red Creek, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- May 14, 1988 · about 11:05 pm local time
- Place
- Red Creek, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 · all FIREFLY 7s on the register
- Registration
- N1502K · no longer on the register · serial 11123
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE THE PILOT WAS WAITING FOR LIFTOFF, THREE GROUND CREWMEN WERE SITTING ON THE BASKET HOLDING THE BALLOON DOWN. AS THE PILOT PREPARED FOR LIFTOFF, HE ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS READY FOR LIFTOFF AND UNTIED THE ROPE. AS THE BALLOON REACHED AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 6-10 FEET, ONE OF THE GROUND CREWMAN JUMPED OFF AND FELL RECEIVING SERIOUS INJURIES. THE GROUND CREWMAN WAS WAITING FOR SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE PILOT. THE PILOT SAID HE THOUGHT THE GROUND CREWMAN WAS AWARE OF THE LIFTOFF. THE PILOT AND GROUND CREWMAN HAD NOT WORKED TOGETHER BEFORE.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 257 hours in all; 78 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 201 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 538 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 17, 1988; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.