# NTSB investigations: Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15

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 CEN24LA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA093.md): Balloon Works Firefly 7-15 · Albany, TX · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jan 13, 2024 · N2582U · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper descent rate during the landing approach in a high wind condition.
- [NTSB ERA23LA391](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA391.md): Balloon Works Firefly 7 · Anderson, SC · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 3, 2023 · N192HH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to avoid trees during the descent for landing, resulting in substantial damage to the balloon.
- [NTSB WPR19TA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19TA005.md): Balloon Works Firefly 7 · Placitas, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Final report · Oct 10, 2018 · N7252H · No damage
  > The pilot’s failure to properly estimate the height of terrain while descending the balloon, which resulted in the balloon impacting a hill and passengers sustaining serious injuries.
- [NTSB CEN12CA279](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA279.md): Balloon Works Firefly 7-15 · Hallsville, MO · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 6, 2012 · N9079S · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during landing.
- [NTSB DFW08LA206](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08LA206.md): Balloon Works Firefly 7-15 · Mountain Grove, MO · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 17, 2008 · N90897 · Substantial damage
  > An on-board fire following a propane leak. Contributing to the accident was the lack of training/experience of the non-certificated pilot.
- [NTSB DEN00LA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA071.md): Balloon Works Firefly F-15 · Anthony, NM · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 9, 2000 · N2571F · Substantial damage
  > Failure by the pilot to keep the burner operating until the balloon was secured. A factor was the passengers disregarding the instructions they had been given by the pilot.
- [NTSB CHI98LA184](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA184.md): Balloon Works Firefly 7-15 · Waterloo, IA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 30, 1998 · N25491 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the power lines during climb. A factor was the power lines.
- [NTSB CHI96LA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA102.md): Balloon Works Firefly 7-15 · Brighton, IA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 25, 1996 · N2598H · No damage
  > The pilot's bone condition, which resulted in a fractured ankle during a normal touchdown.
- [NTSB FTW96FA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96FA063.md): Balloon Works Firefly 7-15 · Oklahoma City, OK · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 9, 1995 · N25756 · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance during low altitude straight and level flight.
- [NTSB CHI94LA309](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA309.md): Balloon Works Fire FLY 7-15 · Storm Lake, IA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 2, 1994 · N2597S · Substantial damage
  > the pilot's excessive rate of descent to landing. Factors in the accident were the gusts and downdraft.
- [NTSB CHI94LA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA042.md): Balloon Works Firefly 7-15 · Pratt, KS · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 5, 1993 · N9079M · Substantial damage
  > The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain clearance from obstacles. Factors contributing to the accident are the pilot's misjudged fuel consumption calculations and the weather (high winds).
- [NTSB NYC93LA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC93LA143.md): Balloon Works Fire FLY 7-15 · Milford, NH · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 1, 1993 · N2574M · No damage
  > Unfavorable winds during landing which resulted in a hard landing and one passenger sustaining a broken angle.
- [NTSB MIA93IA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA93IA052.md): Balloon Works Firefly 7-15 · Orlando, FL · Incident · Minor injuries · Incident investigation · Final report · Jan 2, 1993 · N9056D · No damage
  > Poor in-flight planning/decision by the pilot, and excessive descent resulting in a hard landing.

## 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 ('1050118'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb?model=1050118

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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.
