# NTSB ERA10CA211: Firefly AX8B, N1514G, Durhamville, NY, April 2, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 2, 2010, 07:50 local (11:50 UTC)
- Place: Durhamville, NY
- Coordinates: 43.125, -75.657218 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1250&lon=-75.6572&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 12, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 75661
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA211
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75661/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75661
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA211

## Probable cause

The passenger's failure to adequately brace herself for the landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [Firefly Balloons FIREFLY 8B-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=1050116), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Firefly Balloons FIREFLY 8B-15, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1050116), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the balloon stated that at the conclusion of the 1-hour flight, with two passengers, he conducted a typical landing to a "level, grassy" golf course fairway. During the landing, one of the passengers "lost [her] footing" in the gondola, fell, and slid into the pilot. The pilot then fell onto the passenger, fracturing her ankle. The pilot did not mention if he gave the passengers a prelanding briefing prior to the landing.

## Factual narrative

The pilot of the balloon stated that at the conclusion of the 1-hour flight, he conducted a "typical" landing to a "level, grassy" golf course fairway. During the landing, one of the passengers "lost [her] footing" in the gondola, fell, and "slid" into the pilot. The pilot then fell onto the passenger, fracturing her ankle. The pilot did not mention if he gave the passengers a prelanding briefing prior to the landing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1514G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1514G), registered now, S/N F8B-2024, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FIREFLY AX8B
- Registry model: [Firefly Balloons FIREFLY 8B-15](https://openairdocs.org/model/firefly-balloons-firefly-8b-15) (registry code 1050116) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: F8B2024
- Airframe hours: 350
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Steven Kenneth Flanders
- Registered owner: Steven Kenneth Flanders
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 22, 2009
- Departed: Munnsville, NY
- Destination: Durhamville, NY

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; private; medical: sport pilot; last flight review July 13, 2009; flight hours: 80 total, 80 in this make and model, 71 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.54 inHg
- Observed at: RME, 12 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 20100402032109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100402032109A), Apr 2, 2010: Firefly Bal FIREFLY 8B-, Durhamville, NY, No damage. Upon landing, the balloon touched down firmly, lurched forward and upward slightly. The passenger, standing behind the pilot, lost her footing when the balloon…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 10, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75661. 204 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 204 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329398&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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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