Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 and Raven RALLY RX7 mid-air collision near Las Vegas, Nevada, November 19, 1989
On November 19, 1989 at about 5:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 (N4070W) and Raven RALLY RX7 (N5710Y), were involved in a mid-air collision near Las Vegas, Nevada. 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT OF THE RAVEN RX7, N5710Y, FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CONTROL TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH THE FIREFLY 7, N4070W, AND BOTH PILOTS DID NOT MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM EACH OTHER DURING THE PRACTICE MANEUVER.
THE PILOT OF THE RAVEN RX7, N5710Y, FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CONTROL TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH THE FIREFLY 7, N4070W, AND BOTH PILOTS DID NOT MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM EACH OTHER DURING THE PRACTICE MANEUVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 19, 1989 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Las Vegas, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 · all FIREFLY 7s on the register
- Registration
- N4070W · no longer on the register · serial 10057
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Raven RALLY RX7
- Registration
- N5710Y · no longer on the register · serial RX7-227
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PRACTICE MANEUVER FOR A RIBBON RACE, BOTH BALLOONS ASCENDED SIMULTANEOUSLY TO AN ALTITUDE OF 200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND TO A POSITION 60 FEET APART. THE RAVEN RX7, N5710Y, SUDDENLY ROSE, AND THE BASKET COLLIDED WITH THE UPPER ENVELOPE OF THE FIREFLY 7, N4070W, RESULTING IN A 10 FT RIP. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Raven RALLY RX7 final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PRACTICE MANEUVER FOR A RIBBON RACE, BOTH BALLOONS ASCENDED SIMULTANEOUSLY TO AN ALTITUDE OF 200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND TO A POSITION 60 FEET APART. THE RAVEN RX7, N5710Y, SUDDENLY ROSE, AND THE BASKET COLLIDED WITH THE UPPER ENVELOPE OF THE FIREFLY 7, N4070W, RESULTING IN A 10 FT RIP. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
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 for the Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 55 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 32 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 426 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 12, 1989; 57 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,660 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
The factual record for the Raven RALLY RX7 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,430 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N4070W the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.