# NTSB DEN01LA158: Balloon Works Firefly 8B-15, N2575P, Colo. Springs, CO, September 2, 2001

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 2, 2001, 08:15 local (14:15 UTC)
- Place: Colo. Springs, CO
- Coordinates: 38.810932, -104.709983 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8109&lon=-104.7100&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 February 20, 2002
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 53411
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA158
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53411/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA158

## Probable cause

the passenger's failure to follow instructions given to brace for a high wind landing, and the pilot's failure to adequately monitor the passenger's actions.  A contributing factor was the thermal lift.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing
  - passenger briefing - performed, pilot in command
  - weather condition - thermal lift (contributing factor)
  - instructions,written/verbal - not followed, passenger (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot and his passenger took off in the balloon, leveled off at 1,000 feet, and flew south.  The wind velocity increased to about 15 mph and the pilot decided to land.  He chose a field in which two balloons had already landed.  He briefed his passenger on the position to assume for a high wind landing.  The pilot made a "stand up" landing, but a thermal caused the balloon to ascend about 30 to 40 feet.  It touched down a second time and the pilot vented the envelope.  According to the pilot, the "passenger's foot was out of position and twisted on impact."  X-rays taken later indicated the ankle was fractured.

## Factual narrative

On September 2, 2001, approximately 0815 mountain daylight time, a Balloon Works Firefly 8B-15, N2575P, sustained minor damage during a hard landing near Colorado Springs, Colorado.  The private pilot was not injured, but his passenger received a serious injury.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91.  The flight originated in Colorado Springs approximately 0745.

The following is based on a telephone interview with the pilot and the accident report he submitted.  The pilot said he and his passenger were participating in the Colorado Springs Balloon Classic.  They took off, leveled off at 1,000 feet, and flew south.  The wind velocity increased to about 15 mph and the pilot decided to land.  He chose a field in which two balloons had already landed.  He briefed his passenger on the position to assume for a high wind landing.  The pilot made a "stand up" landing, but a thermal caused the balloon to ascend about 30 to 40 feet.  It touched down a second time and the pilot vented the envelope.  According to the pilot, the "passenger's foot was out of position and twisted on impact."  X-rays taken later indicated the ankle was fractured.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2575P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2575P), registered now, S/N F8B-436 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Balloon Works Firefly 8B-15
- Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-8b-15) (registry code 1050111) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: F8B-436
- Airframe hours: 198
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Philip L. Campbell
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 23, 2001, 4 hours before
- Departed: NONE, Colo. Springs, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; private; last flight review July 1, 2000; flight hours: 131 total, 24 in this make and model, 96 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: COS

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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