# NTSB CEN24LA093: Balloon Works Firefly 7-15, N2582U, Albany, TX, January 13, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: January 13, 2024, 09:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Albany, TX
- Coordinates: 32.78288, -99.365959
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7829&lon=-99.3660&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
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Lubbock FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193681
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA093
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193681/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193681
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA093

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper descent rate during the landing approach in a high wind condition.

## 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: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1050118), [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: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=1050118), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md)
- [Wind: high wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/cases.md?model=1050118), [All aircraft, 112 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034055/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: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1050118), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was unable to arrest the balloon’s descent during a high wind landing approach, during which the balloon contacted trees. The balloon sustained substantial damage to the envelope and load tape. The pilot sustained a serious injury when he was ejected from the basket during the hard landing. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2582U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2582U), registered now, S/N F7-879, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALLOON WORKS Firefly 7-15
- Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-7-15) (registry code 1050118) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 7879-3-5
- Year built: 1995
- Airframe hours: 119
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2023
- Departed: Abilene, TX
- Destination: Albany, TX
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; injuries: serious; private; last flight review May 6, 2023; seat: none; flight hours: 38 total, 36 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 14 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Turbulence: Unknown
- Observed at: KABI, 27 nm away
- METAR: KABI 131452Z 21014G20KT 10SM CLR 07/M09 A2990 RMK AO2 SLP126 T00671089 53007=

## 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 20240113000209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240113000209A), Jan 13, 2024: Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15, Albany, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot was building flying time to meet the requirements for a commercial pilot certificate. Pilot was the sole occupant of the Balloon. Preflight: Night before…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 19, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193681. 2.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16932240&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN24LA093%20-%20Pilot%20Report_Final_Accepted_Secured_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 850 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16932634&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf
- Weather summary (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16939628&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Weather%20Summary%20CEN24LA093-Rel.pdf

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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