# NTSB FTW96LA212: Balloon Works Firefly 8B-15, N2577G, Ft. Lupton, CO, May 14, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 14, 1996, 07:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Ft. Lupton, CO
- Coordinates: 40.080345, -104.799476 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0803&lon=-104.7995&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19838
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA212
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19838/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA212

## Probable cause

the pasenger's failure to follow the instructions given by the pilot during a briefing.

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, landing
  - instructions,written/verbal - not followed, passenger (cause)

## Analysis

During landing, the basket tipped over and one of the passengers had her arm out.  It was caught between the basket and the ground.  The passengers had been briefed to keep their arms inside the basket during landing.

## Factual narrative

On May 14, 1996, at 0730 mountain daylight time, a Firefly 8B-15 balloon, N2577G, landed hard near Fort Lupton, Colorado.  The balloon was not damaged and the pilot and five passengers were not injured.  A sixth passenger received serious injuries.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this air tour balloon flight and no flight plan was filed.  The flight departed Dacono, Colorado, at 0630.

The pilot said his weather briefer predicted winds of 8 to 10 knots for landing and accordingly he pre briefed his passengers prior to the flight.  He said he briefed them again prior to approach, and specifically concerning keeping their arms inside the basket.

According to the pilot, the basket tipped over on its side following touchdown and one of the passengers' arm ended up between the basket and the ground.  Medical examination, following the accident, provided information that the passenger's arm was broken.  This was the first balloon ride for all the passengers.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2577G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2577G-2017-07-14), registration cancelled 2017-07-14, S/N F8B-445 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15 (FIREFLY 8B)
- 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-445
- Airframe hours: 366
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Michael E. Gianetti
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 3, 1995, 45 hours before
- Departed: DACONO, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; commercial; flight hours: 465 total, 366 in this make and model, 439 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 19960514046799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960514046799A), May 14, 1996: Balwks FIREFLY8B15, Ft Lupton, CO. (-16) During the accident investigation it was found that none of the FAA nine responsibilities of chapter 1, order 8020.11 were involved in this balloon…

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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