Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to monitor the balloon's altitude, which resulted in the balloon impacting an airport rotating beacon tower.
NTSB analysis
The balloon had just taken off from the airport as part of a balloon rally. The pilot said that the balloon was about 150 to 200 feet above the ground and that he was checking his flight instruments when the balloon encountered a “false lift condition” and settled on top of the rotating beacon tower on the airport. The balloon envelope was torn open, deflating the envelope, and the basket settled on the ground. A postaccident examination of the balloon showed substantial damage to the top one-third of the envelope's fabric and load tapes. No preaccident anomalies were found that would have precluded normal operation of the balloon.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN13CA278 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 11, 2013
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Anthony, Kansas
- Nearest airport
- Anthony Municipal Airport (ANY)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15
- N-number
- N3171L
- Category
- Balloon
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.