# NTSB DEN99LA023: Balloon Works Firefly 8B-15, N3290G, Albuquerque, NM, October 5, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 5, 1998, 08:10 local (14:10 UTC)
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Coordinates: 35.0592, -106.619766 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0592&lon=-106.6198&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 May 19, 1999
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 45389
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN99LA023
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45389/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA023

## Probable cause

The passenger not following high wind landing procedures/directives which were given to her by the pilot.  A factor was the unforecasted high wind condition.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, passenger (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot said that the surface wind velocity increased to 10 to 12 knots during the flight.  He reported to the Investigator-In-Charge that he descended to lower altitudes several times to 'test the wind conditions.'  He briefed his passengers and performed the landing.  One passenger received a broken ankle.  The injured passenger told one of the crew members that she had shifted her position just before touchdown and 'she had not braced herself properly for the hard landing.'

## Factual narrative

On October 5, 1998, at 0810 mountain daylight time, a Balloon Works Firefly 8B-15, N3290G, was not damaged during a high wind hard landing at Albuquerque, New Mexico.  The commercial pilot and two of his passengers were not injured; however, a second passenger was seriously injured.  The balloon was owned by the pilot and was being operated by World Balloons, LLC., of Albuquerque, New Mexico, under Title 14 CFR Part 91.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight which originated from the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Park approximately 45 minutes prior to the accident.  No flight plan had been filed.

According to the pilot, the surface wind velocity increased to 10 to 12 knots during the flight.  He reported to the Investigator-In-Charge that he descended to lower altitudes several times to "test the wind conditions."  He briefed his passengers and performed the landing.  One passenger received a broken ankle.  The injured passenger told one of the crew members that she had shifted her position just before touchdown and "she had not braced herself properly for the hard landing."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3290G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3290G), registered now, S/N F8B-510 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15 (FIREFLY 8B)
- 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: 8B-15
- Airframe hours: 215
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Michael E. Gianetti
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 1, 1998, 5 hours before
- Departed: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; commercial; medical: unknown, unknown; flight hours: 703 total, 600 in this make and model, 673 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ABQ, 10 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 19981005039229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981005039229A), Oct 5, 1998: Balwks FIREFLY8B15, Albuquerque, NM. (.19) On October 5, 1998, at 0808 mountain daylight time, a balloon works firefly 8B-15 balloon, N3290G, was not damaged during a high wind hard landing at…

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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