# NTSB ERA17LA243: Balloon Works Firefly 8B 15, N3282P, Murfreesboro, TN, July 15, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 14, 2017, 19:30 local (Jul 15, 2017, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Murfreesboro, TN - Coordinates: 35.845554, -86.390274 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8456&lon=-86.3903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 27, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 95579 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17LA243 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95579/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95579 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA243 ## Probable cause The passenger's failure to let go of the balloon's gondola when the balloon began to ascend. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain control of the balloon after landing, which resulted in an inadvertent takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=1050111), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1050111), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Standing: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080) (defining event); cases with it: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md?model=1050111), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the commercial pilot, after a successful sightseeing balloon flight, all the passengers exited the gondola and were helping the pilot secure the balloon. As they were holding on to the maneuvering handles, the balloon began to ascend; the pilot directed the passengers to "let go" of the gondola, and all except one released the maneuvering handles. The passenger who did not let go was carried about 30 ft into the air before he let go and fell to the ground; he sustained serious injuries. The pilot regained control of the balloon and landed. ## Factual narrative On July 14, 2017, about 1930 central daylight time, a Balloon Works, Firefly 8B-15, N3282P, ascended unintentionally after landing near Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The commercial pilot was not injured and one passenger was seriously injured. The commercial sightseeing flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.According to the pilot, after a successful flight, all three passengers exited the gondola and were assisting the pilot in securing the balloon. As they were holding on to the maneuvering handles the balloon began to ascend. The pilot directed everyone to "let go" but one of the passengers continued to hold on to the maneuvering handles. As the gondola ascended the passenger was carried about 30 ft into the air, before letting go and falling to the ground. The pilot regained control of the balloon and landed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3282P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3282P), registered now, S/N F8B-520 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BALLOON WORKS FIREFLY 8B 15 (UNDESIGNAT) - 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: F8B-520 - Year built: 2017 - Airframe hours: 309 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2017 - Departed: Murfreesboro, TN - Destination: Murfreesboro, TN - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 30, 2017; seat: none; flight hours: 12,300 total, 301 in this make and model, 6,600 as pilot in command, 290 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: MQY, 10 nm away ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 28, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95579. 775 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 696 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473156&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum of Record - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473157&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.