# NTSB CHI96LA102: Balloon Works Firefly 7-15, N2598H, Brighton, IA, February 25, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 25, 1996, 17:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place: Brighton, IA
- Coordinates: 41.169723, -91.82048 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1697&lon=-91.8205&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 10204
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA102
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10204/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA102

## Probable cause

The pilot's bone condition, which resulted in a fractured ankle during a normal touchdown.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Miscellaneous/other, landing - flare/touchdown
  - miscellaneous (cause)
  - physiological condition, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot said in preparation for landing, she was executing some touchdowns with the balloon. During one of the touchdowns, her ankle fractured. The pilot rated passenger then took control and landed the balloon. The physician, who treated the pilot, reported that she had reduced calcium levels in her bones.

## Factual narrative

On February 25 1996, at 1745 central standard time (cst), a Balloon Works, Firefly 7-15, N2598H, free air balloon, was involved in a landing accident.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.  The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan.  The pilot sustained a broken ankle during the landing.  The passenger was uninjured.  The flight departed at 1645 cst on the local flight.

The pilot was contacted by telephone on March 7, 1996, by the investigator in charge (IIC).  The pilot said in preparation for landing she was executing some touchdowns with the balloon. The pilot said that during one of the touchdowns her ankle broke.  The pilot said she told the pilot rated passenger that he would have to land the balloon, because she had broken her ankle.  The pilot said, the passenger thought the pilot was kidding about the broken ankle.  The pilot said she reaffirmed to the passenger that her ankle was broken, and that he would have to land the balloon.  The pilot said she had made many landings much harder than the accident landing on this flight, and was unsure of the reason for the broken ankle.  The pilot said that there were no malfunctions with the balloon.

The pilot was treated by a physician on the evening of February 25, 1996.  The physician who treated the pilot wrote that the pilot had soft bone quality.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2598H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2598H-2008-08-14), registration cancelled 2008-08-14, S/N F7-815 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15 (FIREFLY 7-)
- 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: F7-815
- Airframe hours: 134
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Michael C. Hadley
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 17, 1995, 45 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; private

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 0° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FFL, 15 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 19960225046809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960225046809A), Feb 25, 1996: Balwks FIREFLY715, Richland, IA. (-16) During a local flight, the pilot was conducting several touch and go landings. On the final landing, as the basket made ground contact, the pilot had her…

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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