Firefly Galaxy 9 accident near Lewisburg, WV
On September 25, 2004, a Firefly Galaxy 9 (balloon) was involved in an accident near Lewisburg, WV. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: minor.
- Date
- September 25, 2004
- Place
- Lewisburg, WV
- Aircraft
- Firefly Galaxy 9 · Balloon
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Minor
- Position
- 37.781°N, 80.457°W
- NTSB ID
- 20040930X01539
Official records · NYC04LA217
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On September 25, 2004, at 1830 eastern daylight time, a Firefly Galaxy 9 balloon, N2200Z, received minor damage when it impacted trees near Lewisburg, West Virginia. The certificated commercial pilot received fatal injuries and the six passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the passengers, they had landed in a field, and all of the occupants had exited the balloon, when a small airplane flew "very low" over the top of the balloon. At the same time, the balloon began to ascend, with the pilot hanging onto the outside of the basket. One of the passengers asked the pilot "if he was ok," to which he replied, "yes, I know a trick." The pilot proceeded to wrap a rope around his leg, and the balloon continued to ascend. As it reached an altitude of about 80 feet, the pilot fell from the outside of the basket. According to the pilot of the passing airplane, he was on a "five-mile final," and had been cleared to land at the Lewisburg Greenbrier Airport, when he noticed a hot air balloon, on the ground, 1/2-mile ahead of him, and to his right. The pilot requested a 360-degree turn from the control tower, and then performed a descending right turn, passing over some small trees on the southeast side of the balloon. The pilot then turned back to the airport, about 1/2 mile northeast of the balloon, at an altitude of 3,100 feet MSL. The balloon then began to rise, and the pilot observed a man running toward the balloon. The balloon ascended to approximately 100
Probable cause
The pilot's improper decision to attempt to board the balloon while it was ascending.
More accidents in WV
- Bell UH-1B, Jun 22, 2022
- Piper PA-34-200T, Jan 30, 2009
- Piper PA-32R-301T, Jul 19, 2004
- Piper PA-32-R-300, Sep 26, 1982
- Piper PA-32RT-300T, Feb 9, 1984
Browse: West Virginia
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
