Balloon Works FIRE FLY 7-15 accident near Milford, New Hampshire, August 1, 1993
On August 1, 1993 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Balloon Works FIRE FLY 7-15, registered N2574M, was involved in an accident near Milford, New Hampshire. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
UNFAVORABLE WINDS DURING LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING AND ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINING A BROKEN ANGLE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 1993 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Milford, New Hampshire
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works FIRE FLY 7-15 FIRE FLY 7
- Registration
- N2574M · no longer on the register · serial A8108-3-5
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE BALLOON PILOT SAID THE WINDS WERE HIGHER THAN FORECAST. DURING THE LANDING, THE BASKET TIPPED OVER AND WAS DRAGGED FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET AND RIGHTED ITSELF. ONE PASSENGER RECEIVED A BROKEN ANKLE AND THE OTHER BRUISES. THE PILOT REPORTED THE WINDS HAD A VELOCITY OF 5 TO 8 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 10 KNOTS.
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: 375 hours in all; 375 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 360 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 3, 1993; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 0
- 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 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.