# Accident 20040213009539A: Balwks FIREFLY11, Cave Creek, AZ, February 13, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 13, 2004, 09:30 local time
- Place: Cave Creek, AZ
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other Ground Ops
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.7339° N, 112.0736° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7339&lon=-112.0736&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7244X, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7244X-2015-05-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Balloon Works FIREFLY 11 (registry code 1050125, https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALWKS FIREFLY11
- People aboard: 8
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,521 total, 300 in this make and model, 36 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX04LA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA123) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040213009539A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) PILOT HAD JUST LANDED THE BALLOON AND WAS PREPARING TO DEFLATE THE BALLOON. WHILE THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO DEFLATE THE BALLOON THE VENT LINE BROKE. THIS ALLOWED THE BALLOON TO BECOME "BUOYANT" AGAIN. THE WINDS DRAGGED THE BALLOON APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE ALONG THE GROUND, COLLIDING WITH THE TERRAIN. THE BALLOON SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND 3 OF THE 10 PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURY.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX04LA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA123), Feb 13, 2004: Balloon Works Firefly 11 (N7244X), Phoenix, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: the failure of the deflation vent line, which resulted in the pilot not being able to control the balloon in the increased wind conditions.

## Other reports on N7244X (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20000811040709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000811040709A), Aug 11, 2000: Balwks FIREFLY11 (N7244X), Phoenix, AZ. (.4) On August 11, 2000, at 0625 hours mountain standard time, a balloon works firefly ii, N7244X, encountered unusual wind conditions and collided with the…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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