Balloon Works FIREFLY accident near Hatboro, Pennsylvania, August 31, 1989
On August 31, 1989 at about 11:20 pm local time, a Balloon Works FIREFLY, registered N7406F, suffered minor damage in an accident near Hatboro, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE OBSTRUCTIONS. A RELATED FACTOR WAS: THE LOW LEVEL OF PROPANE (FUEL), WHICH RESULTED IN LOW BURNER PRESSURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 1989 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Hatboro, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works FIREFLY
- Registration
- N7406F · no longer on the register · serial F88-019
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE BALLOON DEPARTED ON A PLEASURE FLT WITH 4 PASSENGERS ABOARD. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED FROM THE SOUTHEAST AT 5 KTS, VISIBILITY WAS UNLIMITED & THE TEMP WAS 72 DEGS. ABOUT 30 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT DISCOVERED THE #2 PROPANE TANK WAS EMPTY. HE IMMEDIATELY SWITCHED TO THE #1 RESERVE TANK. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND IN AN APPROPRIATE LANDING SPOT, THE BURNER PRESSURE DROPPED & THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO AVOID POWERLINES. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE GONDOLA CONTACTED & CAME TO REST ON THE POWERLINES. THE PLT WAS ABLE TO DISLODGE THE GONDOLA, BUT IT FELL TO THE GROUND & ONE PASSENGER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED; THE OTHER PASSENGERS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 392 hours in all; 40 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 96 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 15, 1988; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: North Wales PA at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 185° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 |
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.