# NTSB DEN79DTE59: Balloon WKS FF-8, N40434, Center, CO, July 9, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: July 9, 1979
- Place: Center, CO · CENTER, CO
- Location: 37.7523° N, 106.1104° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Center, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7523&lon=-106.1104&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 11, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 135585
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN79DTE59
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN79DTE59

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0908   79/7/9  NR.CENTER,CO          BALLOON WKS FF-8    CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 32, 243
        TIME - 0735                    N40434              PX-  0  1  3  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 24 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-MINOR        OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         CENTER,CO                    LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
          PILOT-IMPROPER LANDING TECHNIQUE
           WEATHER - SUDDEN WINDSHIFT
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    25000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      55
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          250                                                       12
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- BALLOON-NO MED CERT REQD.WIND GUST TO 17 KTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N40434](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40434-2012-11-15), registration cancelled 2012-11-15, S/N 810, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALLOON WKS FF-8
- Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 8-24](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-8-24) (registry code 1050107) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Engines: none
- Damage: Minor damage

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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