# NTSB FTW01LA154: Balloon Works Firefly 8B-15, N72524, Celina, TX, June 23, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 23, 2001, 20:15 UTC - Place: Celina, TX - Coordinates: 33.180168, -96.589141 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1802&lon=-96.5891&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 23, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 52564 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW01LA154 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52564/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA154 ## Probable cause the unsuitable landing area selected by the pilot-in-command which resulted in a hard landing. A contributing factor was the uneven/rough terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - terrain condition - uphill - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - aborted - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - terrain condition - uphill ## Analysis The commercial balloon pilot was demonstrating an upslope landing on a terraced hill. The balloon bounced on one of the terraces, and the student pilot was "thrown forward." The student pilot lost her footing, one of her shoes became lodged in the bottom of the basket, and she sustained a broken ankle. The instructor aborted the landing, and landed the balloon at the next available field. ## Factual narrative On June 23, 2001, approximately 2015 central daylight time, a Balloon Works Firefly 8B-15 hot air balloon, N72524, was not damaged during a hard landing near Celina, Texas. The commercial pilot was not injured, and the student pilot received serious injuries. The balloon was owned and operated by the student pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight departed McKinney, Texas, approximately 1900. The instructor and student pilot stated that during the instructional flight, the instructor had demonstrated several approaches and landings. During a landing to an upward sloping terraced hill, the balloon bounced on one of the terraces, and the student pilot was "thrown forward." The student pilot had lost her footing, one of her shoes became lodged in the bottom of the basket, and she sustained a broken ankle. The instructor aborted the landing, and landed at the next available field. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N72524](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N72524), registered now, S/N F8B-615 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Balloon Works Firefly 8B-15 - Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-8b-15) (registry code 1050111) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: F8B-615 - Airframe hours: 28.75 - Engines: none unknown - Damage: No damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael B. Marx - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 27, 2000, 28.75 hours before - Departed: NONE, McKinney, TX - Destination: TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; flight hours: 965 total, 623 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 41; injuries: serious; student; flight hours: 12 total, 12 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: 140° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg ## 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 20010623033529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010623033529A), Jun 23, 2001: Balwks FIREFLY8B15, Mc Kinney, TX, No damage. (-23) Mr. George, a lta commercial pilot, was imparting instruction to a student pilot. The student pilot was having difficulty with landings. All landings… 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.