# NTSB FTW95LA376: Balloon Works Firefly 7, N90555, Colorado Spgs, CO, September 2, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 2, 1995, 07:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Colorado Spgs, CO
- Location: 38.8339° N, 104.8214° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Colorado Springs, CO, within about 8 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8339&lon=-104.8214&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 6, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19568
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA376
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19568/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA376

## Probable cause

AN ENCOUNTER WITH A WIND SHIFT DURING LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - weather condition - sudden windshift (cause)
- Hard landing, landing

## Analysis

DURING THE FINAL STAGE OF LANDING, THE BALLOON ENCOUNTERED A WIND SHIFT AND THE LANDING WAS HARD.  THE BASKET REMAINED UPRIGHT, BUT FOLLOWING THE LANDING THE PASSENGER INFORMED THE PILOT HE HAD BROKEN HIS ANKLE. THE BALLOON WAS NOT DAMAGED.

## Factual narrative

On September 2, 1995, at 0730 mountain daylight time, a Balloon Works Firefly 7, N90555, made a high wind landing near Colorado Springs, Colorado.  The private pilot was not injured and her passenger received serious injuries.  The balloon was not damaged.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this 14 CFR Part 91 local area passenger flight and no flight plan was filed.

According to the pilot, a hard landing was conducted with the winds variable at 7 to 12 knots.  Following the landing, during which the basket remained upright, the passenger told the pilot that he thought he had broken his ankle.  The pilot stated she thought they had encountered a low level wind shear.  However, the investigation provided no evidence that microburst/windshear conditions were present in the area during the time period when the accident occurred.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N90555](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N90555), registered now, S/N F7-624, built 1990 (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: F7-624
- Airframe hours: 341
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Suzanne R. Crosley
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 30, 1995, 40 hours before
- Departed: COS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; commercial; flight hours: 354 total, 342 in this make and model, 343 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: COS

## 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 19950902049599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950902049599A), Sep 2, 1995: Balwks FIREFLY7, Coloradosprings, CO, No damage. (-16) During a high wind landing, the gondola hit first on a corner, throwing the passenger off balance, breaking his leg. Pilot and aircraft were properly…

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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