# Incident 20040508008369I: Balwks FIREFLY10, Indio, CA, May 8, 2004

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 8, 2004, 08:00 local time
- Place: Indio, CA
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.7206° N, 116.2156° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Indio, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7206&lon=-116.2156&mi=10
- Aircraft: N15091, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N15091-2020-05-29) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Balloon Works FIRE FLY 10 (registry code 1050300, https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-fire-fly-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALWKS FIREFLY10
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,758 total, 234 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040508008369I

## Narrative

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

(-23) MR. CARTER WAS THE PILOT IN COMMAND ON N15091, FIREFLY-10 BALLOON, ON MAY 8, 2004. THIS FLIGHT WAS A COMMERCIAL FLIGHT CARRYING 10 PASSENGERS. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT STATEMENT APPROXIMATELY THIRTY MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, MR. CARTER OBSERVED THAT THE GROUND WINDS APPEARED TO BE INCREASING. HE MADE A DECISION TO MANUEVER THE BALLOON TO LAND AT THE THERMAL AIRPORT. HE DESCENDED TO 400' ALTITUDE AND WAS FLYING LEVEL FOR 3-5 MINUTES. HE FELT A STRONG WIND BLOWING ON HIS FACE INDICATING A CHANGE IN THE WIND DIRECTION AND IGNITED BOTH BURNERS ANTICIPATING THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF ALTITUDE THAT MIGHT COME FROM THE ENVELOPE ENCOUNTERING SUCH A WIND SHEAR. THE BALLOON IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO DESCEND RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING. ONLY MINOR INJURIES WERE INCURRED BY SOME PASSENGERS (I.E. SCRATCHES AND BRUISES).

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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