# NTSB DEN85LA234: Balloon Works Firefly 7, N2259H, Littleton, CO, September 1, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 1, 1985, 07:50 local (13:50 UTC)
- Place: Littleton, CO
- Coordinates: 39.610523, -104.9505 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6105&lon=-104.9505&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16757
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85LA234
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16757/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85LA234

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, descent - normal
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather evaluation - inattentive, pilot in command (cause)
- Hard landing, landing
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO LAND HIS BALLOON IN HIGH WINDS RESULTING A HARD LDG WHICH THREW HIM OUT OF THE BASKET THE BALLOON THEN BEGAN AN IMMEDIATE ASENT UNTIL A PAX PULLED THE VENT LINE AND THE BALLOON SETTLED RAPIDLY UNTIL IT HIT THE GRD. INJURIES TO PASSENGERS OCCURRED WHEN THE BALLOON STRUCK THE GRD THE 2ND TIME.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2259H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2259H-2017-07-07), registration cancelled 2017-07-07, S/N 7765, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALLOON WORKS FIREFLY 7
- Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-7) (registry code 1050100) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 7765
- Engines: NONE NONE unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Jeffrey Kirk Pinar
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 13, 1985
- Departed: LITTLETON, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; commercial; seat: center; flight hours: 141 total, 141 in this make and model, 108 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DEN, 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 19850901043979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850901043979A), Sep 1, 1985: Balwks FIREFLY7, Littleton, CO. PIC thrown out of balloon on first contact. Balloon ascended but made quick descent with other pilot. Gusty winds.

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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