# NTSB CEN21LA210: Firefly Balloons 2010 Firefly 12B-010, N3016R, Pagosa Springs, CO, April 20, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 20, 2021, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Pagosa Springs, CO
- Coordinates: 37.272272, -107.08694 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2723&lon=-107.0869&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 10 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103037
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA210
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103037/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA210

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to properly control the balloon during a steep approach that resulted in a hard landing and a serious passenger injury.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Firefly Balloons 2010 FIREFLY 12B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1050167), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Firefly Balloons 2010 FIREFLY 12B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=1050167), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Firefly Balloons 2010 FIREFLY 12B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1050167), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he and 10 passengers were landing following a 30 minute flight. The balloon had to clear powerlines along a road to land in a field and the pilot had to land the balloon before it encountered trees and a row of bushes at the end of the field. The pilot briefed the passengers on the landing position and procedures and descended to the field. He landed the balloon firm so that it would not move closer to the trees and bushes. The pilot reported that immediately after landing, one of the passengers complained that her wrist was sore. During a medical examination after the accident, it was determined that she sustained a fractured wrist.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3016R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3016R), registered now, S/N F12B-010, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FIREFLY BALLOONS 2010 INC FIREFLY 12B-010
- Registry model: [Firefly Balloons 2010 FIREFLY 12B](https://openairdocs.org/model/firefly-balloons-2010-firefly-12b) (registry code 1050167) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: F12B-010
- Year built: 2012
- Airframe hours: 581.8
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 10, 2021
- Equipment: Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: none; flight hours: 416.7 total, 356.7 in this make and model, 376 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: KPSO, 2 nm away
- METAR: METAR KPSO 201455Z AUTO 12003KT 10SM CLR 05/M11 A3003 RMK AO2 T00511113=

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20210420005259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210420005259A), Apr 20, 2021: Firefly Balloons 2010 Inc FIREFLY 12B, Pagosa Springs, CO, No damage. On 04/20/2021 at approximately 0830 MDT, N3016R a commercially operated balloon, landed in a field near Pagosa Springs, CO. The balloon had one pilot and ten…

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.

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