# NTSB DEN99LA006: Balloon Works FIREFLY-7, N36609, Alberquerque, NM, October 8, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 8, 1998, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Alberquerque, NM
- Coordinates: 35.060127, -106.620956 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0601&lon=-106.6210&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 19, 1999
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 44155
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN99LA006
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/44155/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA006

## Probable cause

The passenger's failure to follow procedures/directives for a hard landing.  A factor was the congested/confined landing area with power lines on both ends.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing
  - procedures/directives - not followed, passenger (cause)
  - terrain condition - congested/confined area

## Analysis

According to the pilot, he was preparing to land in a small field with power lines upwind and downwind.  He had instructed the passengers, the pilot's mother and a balloon ground crew member, how to brace themselves for a 'cold fast landing.' The pilot stated, upon landing, that as soon as they contacted the ground, he heard one of his passengers 'scream in pain.'  Attempting to stop the balloon with the top pulled out, the balloon swung forward 6-8 ft. where it touched down a second time.  After deflation of the balloon, he and one of his passengers exited the balloon, the other passenger was unable to exit due to two broken legs.

## Factual narrative

On October 8, 1998, approximately 1000 mountain daylight time, a Balloon Works Firefly-7 balloon, N36609, was not damaged during a hard landing near Albuquerque, New Mexico.  The private pilot and one passenger were not injured; however, a second passenger received serious injuries.  The balloon was being operated by the pilot under Title 14 CFR Part 91.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight which originated from Kodak Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Park, Albuquerque, New Mexico, approximately 60 minutes before the accident. No flight plan had been filed.

According to the pilot, he was preparing to land in a small field with power lines upwind and downwind.  He had instructed the passengers, the pilot's mother and a balloon ground crew member, how to brace themselves for a "cold fast landing."  The pilot stated, upon landing, that as soon as they contacted the ground, he heard one of his passengers "scream in pain."  Attempting to stop the balloon with the top pulled out, the balloon swung forward 6-8 ft. where it touched down a second time.  After deflation of the balloon, he and one of his passengers exited the balloon, the other passenger was unable to exit due to two broken legs.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N36609](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N36609-2005-09-29), registration cancelled 2005-09-29, S/N F7-048, built 1983 (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: F7-048
- Airframe hours: 193
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Mark C. Otto
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 7, 1998, 10 hours before
- Departed: FIESTA PARK, NM

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; private; flight hours: 57 total, 54 in this make and model, 27 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ABQ

## 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 19981008037749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981008037749A), Oct 8, 1998: Balwks FIREFLY7, Albuquerque, NM. (.19)On October 8, 1998, approximately 1000 mountain daylight time, a balloon works firefly-7, N36609, was not damaged when it collided with terrain at fiesta…

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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