Incident Overview
On August 17, 2008, at approximately 0830 central daylight time, a Balloon Works Firefly 7-15 balloon (registration N90897) was destroyed during a tethered ascent near Mountain Grove, Missouri. The pilot, a non-certificated private individual and the sole occupant, was fatally injured. A second individual, who was assisting on the ground, sustained serious burn injuries when a propane tank exploded. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 flight.
Sequence of Events
According to several ground handlers, the balloon flight was intended to honor the balloon's owner, who had recently passed away. During the ascent, a propane leak occurred and subsequently ignited. The pilot was unable to extinguish the fire. The fire caused one of the propane tanks to explode. At an altitude of about 80 feet, the pilot jumped from the burning balloon to escape the fire. The basket then separated from the envelope and landed near the pilot. When ground handlers went to assist the pilot, a second propane tank exploded, causing serious burn injuries to one of the participants. The reason for the propane leak was not determined.