# NTSB investigations: Balloon Works FIREFLY 8-24 NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports. ## Latest cases - [NTSB FTW98LA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA008.md): Balloon Works Firefly 8-24 · Albuquerque, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 6, 1997 · N74056 · No damage > the passenger's failure to follow procedures/directives for the landing. - [NTSB LAX94LA337](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA337.md): Balloon Works Firefly 8-24 · Sedona, AZ · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 23, 1994 · N90299 · No damage > a tip over of the balloon and basket during a high wind landing due to the pilot's inability to compensate for the increased wind speed conditions during the final stages of the flight and landing. - [NTSB LAX91LA047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA047.md): Balloon Works Firefly 8-24 · Poway, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 26, 1990 · N7113U · Minor damage > The pilot's failure to obtain a proper touchdown point. Contributing factors which related to the basket's tipping over were the pilot's misjudging the wind direction and the wind's relative high speed. - [NTSB DEN89LA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA077.md): Balloon Works AX8-24 · Telluride, CO · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 14, 1989 · N7127J · Substantial damage > Ice forming in the fuel tank shut off valve, and the burner blast valve resulting in a loss of control during landing. - [NTSB LAX88LA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88LA079.md): Balloon Works Firefly 8-24 · Phoenix, AZ · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 1, 1988 · N74169 · Substantial damage - [NTSB LAX87LA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA168.md): Balloon Works Firefly 8-24 · Phoenix, AZ · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 5, 1987 · N3750D · No damage > During a pleasure Balloon ride, the Balloon lifted off in a southerly direction then shifted to a south easterly direction. The plt felt that the balloons response time for adequate lift took too long. The Balloon began drifting toward 50 to 60 ft power… - [NTSB LAX87LA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA160.md): Balloon Works Barnes FF-8-24 · Phoenix, AZ · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 19, 1987 · N3750D · Minor damage > During a local sightseeing flight, the pilot reported that upon lift-off the weather conditions were clear and calm. During the flight, however, the wind conditions had increased from a westerly direction at a velocity of 12 knots, gusting to 15. The pilot… - [NTSB MIA87LA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87LA030.md): Balloon Works Firefly 8-24 · Brandon, FL · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 4, 1986 · N37171 · No damage > A high sink rate was not arrested prior to the hard ldg. The plt stated that he briefed the pax on ldg procedures which included a tight grip in the event of an emerg ldg. The pax statements differed from those of the Balloon crew concerning the content of… - [NTSB LAX86LA159](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LA159.md): Balloon Works Firefly 8-24 · Pheonix, AZ · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 31, 1986 · N3694C · No damage > The Balloon collided with the terrain during a sight seeing tour. The plt noticed the dust signature of ground turbulent wx phenomena known as rotors or dust devils arpx 3 miles ahead. He elected to make an immediate precautionary landing and descended to an… - [NTSB LAX84LA425](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA425.md): Balloon Works Fire FLY 8-24 · Yountville, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 27, 1984 · N27046 · No damage > The initial landing was in an area of limited access and the pilot elected to continue the flight over a tree line to a nearby more suitable field. In order to avoid being carried into a second downwind tree line, the plt descended the Balloon into the field… - [NTSB SEA84LA144](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA84LA144.md): Balloon Works Barnes AX-8 · Monroe, WA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 24, 1984 · N1509H · No damage > During the ballon descent, the plt said he briefed the passengers to bend their knees & hold onto something inside the basket. According to the plt, the descent became more rapid due to a downdraft. The passengers were again warned to 'hang on' because it… - [NTSB CHI84LA216](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI84LA216.md): Balloon Works Barnes Firefly 8-24 · Burnsville, MN · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 27, 1984 · N3679A · No damage > The Balloon landed without incident. According to the plt, the envelope was being deflated when a gust of wind tipped the basket. The plt said he saw a young boy with his leg under the basket. The plt lifted the edge of the basket by stepping out of it to… - [NTSB LAX84LA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA231.md): Balloon Works Fire FLY 8-24 · Phoenix, AZ · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 24, 1984 · N36104 · Minor damage > The plt took off on a sight-seeing Balloon flt with 5 passengers whose ages were reportedly from 65 to 83 yrs old. About 1 hr & 15 mins later, he landed on desert terrain in winds that he estimated were aprx 10 KTS gusting to 15 KTS. During touchdown, the… - [NTSB CHI83LA310](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83LA310.md): Balloon Works Firefly 8-24 · Hamel, MN · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 13, 1983 · N1509W · Substantial damage > During flt, the plt used fuel from 2 of 4 propane tanks, then switched to the 2nd 2 tanks & started a descent. At aprx 300 ft AGL, he tried to start the burner, but could not get a light because the pilot light was out. He attempted to manually relight the… - [NTSB DEN79DTE59](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN79DTE59.md): Balloon WKS FF-8 · Center, CO · Accident · Serious injuries · Closed · Jul 9, 1979 · N40434 · Minor damage - [NTSB ANC78DAA11](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC78DAA11.md): Balloon WKS FF-8 · Fairbanks, AK · Accident · No injuries · Closed · Mar 30, 1978 · N2088F · Substantial damage ## The whole list in SQL Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS: ```sql SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1 WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('1050107')) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC ``` This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb?model=1050107 --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.