20040617011029A

Accident

FAA accident report · Balwks FIREFLY 9 · Aurora, OR · June 17, 2004

Date: June 17, 2004 · 07:15 local
Place: Aurora, OR
Phase of flight: Descent
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Aircraft: N3097R
NTSB investigation: NTSBSEA04CA109
Reported as: Balwks FIREFLY9
People aboard: 5
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 716 total716 in this make and model10 in the last 90 days

N3097RRegistration cancelled Nov 12, 2025 · Balloon Works FIREFLY 9S/N F9-063 · Built 1996 Airframe modelBalloon Works FIREFLY 9 Engine modelNONENone

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Lighter-than-air free balloon with a pilot and six passengers experienced a harder than normal landing after encountering strong gusty wind conditions. The pilot received a broken ankle and one passenger experienced cracked ribs. No damage to the aircraft.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) LIGHTER-THAN-AIR FREE BALLOON WITH A PILOT AND SIX PASSENGERS EXPERIENCED A HARDER THAN NORMAL LANDING AFTER ENCOUNTERING STRONG GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS. THE PILOT RECEIVED A BROKEN ANKLE AND ONE PASSENGER EXPERIENCED CRACKED RIBS. NO DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB SEA04CA109Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportAurora, ORPilot's failure to compensate for wind conditions. Wind was a contributing factor.Jun 17, 2004 · Minor damage