# NTSB DEN89LA185: Balloon Works Firefly 8B, N74191, Louisville, CO, August 6, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 6, 1989, 07:55 local (13:55 UTC)
- Place: Louisville, CO
- Coordinates: 39.959411, -105.139556 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9594&lon=-105.1396&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 2, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17758
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89LA185
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17758/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA185

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY EVALUATE THE WEATHER PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. HIGH WINDS DEVELOPED DURING THE BALLOON FLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN A ROUGH LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - balloon equipment,basket - distorted

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE WIND WAS CALM WHEN HE LAUNCHED BUT BECAME STRONG AND GUSTY DURING THE ONE HR FLT. HE SAID HE LANDED ON THE TOP OF A MESA WITH THE WIND ESTIMATED TO BE 25 KTS, WITH GUSTS TO 35 KTS. DURING THE LANDING THE PASSENGERS WERE JOSTLED AROUND AND ONE PASSENGER RECEIVED A SERIOUS INJURY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N74191](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N74191-2013-06-12), registration cancelled 2013-06-12, S/N F8B-037 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALLOON WORKS FIREFLY 8B
- Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-8b) (registry code 1050110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: F8B037
- Airframe hours: 363
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Vande Hoef, Edward L.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 20, 1989, 49 hours before
- Departed: NONE
- Destination: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; commercial; flight hours: 391 total, 20 in this make and model, 379 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 25 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F

## 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 19890806029959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890806029959A), Aug 6, 1989: Balwks FIREFLY8B, Louisville, CO. High wind, hard landing . Injured passengers on a sightseeing flight.

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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