# NTSB CHI08CA281: Firefly Balloons 8B-15, N2053D, Springfield, IL, September 11, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 10, 2008, 19:10 local (Sep 11, 2008, 00:10 UTC)
- Place: Springfield, IL
- Coordinates: 39.844165, -89.67778
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8442&lon=-89.6778&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 22, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Springfield, MO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 68958
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08CA281
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68958/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA281

## Probable cause

The failure of the passenger to follow the pilot's instructions by not steadying herself during the landing.

## Findings

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

- [Communication (personnel): following instructions](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063537): Personnel issues › Task performance · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [Firefly Balloons FIREFLY 8B-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063537/cases.md?model=1050116), [All aircraft, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063537/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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Firefly Balloons FIREFLY 8B-15, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1050116), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that the ground winds were 1 to 2 miles per hour, and the winds between 500 and 1,500 feet above the ground varied from 5 to 8 miles per hour during the uneventful flight. He reported that he chose a backyard in which to land, and at an altitude of seven to nine feet above the ground they threw a line out to the chase crew to slow them down. The pilot reported that before reaching the ground, two more chase crewmembers grabbed the gondola to slow them down even more and to soften the landing. Upon touching down, one passenger lost her balance and fell into a 91-year-old passenger, knocking her to the bottom of the gondola. The 91-year-old passenger suffered two broken legs and a broken ankle. The pilot reported that prior to the departure all of the passengers were instructed to hold on tight, bend their knees, and stay inside the gondola during the landing.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported the ground winds were 1 to 2 miles per hour, and the winds between 500 and 1,500 feet above the ground varied from 5 to 8 miles per hour during the uneventful flight. He reported he chose a backyard in which to land, and at an altitude of seven to nine feet above the ground they threw a line out to the chase crew to slow them down. The pilot reported that before reaching the ground, two more chase crewmembers grabbed the gondola to slow them down even more and to soften the landing. Upon touching down, one passenger lost her balance and fell into a 91 year old passenger, knocking her to the bottom of the gondola. The 91 year old passenger suffered two broken legs and a broken ankle. The pilot reported that prior to the departure, all of the passengers were instructed to hold on tight, bend their knees, and stay inside the gondola during the landing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2053D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2053D-2018-02-05), registration cancelled 2018-02-05, S/N F8B-2088, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Firefly Balloons 8B-15
- Registry model: [Firefly Balloons FIREFLY 8B-15](https://openairdocs.org/model/firefly-balloons-firefly-8b-15) (registry code 1050116) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: B82088-3-5
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Operator: Edward J. Dowling
- Registered owner: Edward J. Dowling
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Springfield, IL
- Destination: Springfield, IL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; commercial; flight hours: 586 total, 431 in this make and model, 552 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observed at: SPI, 2 nm away

## 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 20080910850299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080910850299A), Sep 10, 2008: Firfly FIREFLY8B15, Springfield, IL, No damage. (-23) During a normal landing, one passenger failed to hold on tightly and she lost her balance and fell against another elderly passenger, causing her to fall…

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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