# NTSB FTW95LA280: Balloon Works Firefly 7, N2232H, Littleton, CO, July 8, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 8, 1995, 07:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place: Littleton, CO
- Coordinates: 39.58992, -105.010108 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5899&lon=-105.0101&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 September 24, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19483
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA280
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19483/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA280

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE BALLOON DURING LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing
  - terrain condition - residential area
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING A NORMAL LANDING, FOLLOWING A 30 MINUTE FLIGHT, THE GONDOLA TIPPED ON ITS SIDE TRAPPING THE PILOT'S RIGHT ARM UNDER THE GONDOLA. THE PILOT SUSTAINED A FRACTURE TO THE RIGHT FOREARM, THE BALLOON WAS NOT DAMAGED.

## Factual narrative

On July 8, 1995, at 0700 mountain daylight time, the pilot of a Balloon Works Firefly 7 Balloon, N2232H, sustained serious injuries during landing in Littleton, Colorado.  The balloon was not damaged on this local area personal flight which departed Chatfield Reservoir Park, Littleton, Colorado, at 0630.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.

According to the pilot, the basket tipped on its side during the landing in a residential area and trapped her arm underneath causing her to sustain a fracture to the right forearm.  Reported wind at the nearest facility, 7 miles east of the accident site, was 190 degrees at 5 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2232H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2232H-2017-04-04), registration cancelled 2017-04-04, S/N 7779, built 1978 (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: 7779
- Airframe hours: 309
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Myron E. Kayton
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 2, 1994, 19 hours before
- Departed: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; flight hours: 36 total, 16 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: APA, 7 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 19950708017179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950708017179A), Jul 8, 1995: Balwks FIREFLY7, Littleton, CO. Basket tipped over landing. Trapped pilots arm under basket. Fractured same. Failed to hold and brace for landing.

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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