# Accident 20110916021719A: Balloon Works FIREFLY 8, Mingo, IA, September 16, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 16, 2011, 19:30 local time
- Place: Mingo, IA
- Damage: No damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.7669° N, 93.2836° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7669&lon=-93.2836&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3181A, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3181A-2018-01-03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Balloon Works FIREFLY 8 (registry code 1050109, https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-8) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALLOON WORKS FIREFLY 8
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 800 total, 320 in this make and model, 36 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN11CA654](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA654) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110916021719A

## Narrative

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

DURING A HARD LANDING IN A HOT AIR BALLOON, A PASSENGER ON BOARD SUFFERED A BROKEN ANKLE. THE LANDING OCCURRED IN 10 KNOTS OF WIND, WHICH IS NEAR THE NORMAL MAXIMUM OPERATING LIMITS FOR BALLOONING. THE PILOT AND OTHER PASSENGER HAD NO INJURIES AND THE BALLOON HAD NO DAMAGE.  THE PASSENGERS WERE BRIEFED BY THE PILOT ON PROPER POSTURE TO ASSUME DURING LANDING, NEVERTHELESS, THE INJURY OCCURRED.

## 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 CEN11CA654](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA654), Sep 17, 2011: Balloon Works Firefly 8 (N3181A), Mingo, IA, no damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the balloon’s descent during the landing, which resulted in the balloon having a hard landing in a ditch and causing a passenger to be seriously injured.

## Other reports on N3181A (1)

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

- [Incident 20100928046599I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100928046599I), Sep 28, 2010: Balloon Wor FIREFLY 8 (N3181A), Reasnor, IA, Minor damage. While maneuvering the Balloon into position for the purpose of dropping a bean bag into a vehicle located on a road below, the pilot failed to maintain…

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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