# NTSB LAX00LA292: Balloon Works Firefly II, N7244X, Phoenix, AZ, August 11, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 11, 2000, 06:25 local (13:25 UTC) - Place: Phoenix, AZ - Coordinates: 33.679622, -112.089698 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6796&lon=-112.0897&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor, 8 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49956 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA292 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49956/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA292 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to use pibals or other on site wind determination devices, and his subsequent failure to detect adverse wind conditions prior to launch of the balloon. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly - weather condition - turbulence,terrain induced - weather condition - windshear - wind information - not obtained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - weather condition - downdraft - aircraft performance,climb capability - exceeded ## Analysis On a for-hire sightseeing flight, the balloon encountered unusual wind conditions and collided with the ground after the envelope partially collapsed. One passenger sustained a fractured ankle in the hard landing. The pilot said that a preflight weather briefing contained no flight precautions for the proposed flight area. The launch site is in a flood control basin near a dam and surrounded by hills. Following launch, the pilot contoured a hill and, as the balloon neared the top, it encountered a wind shear the pilot described as a direction change of 70 degrees with a speed of 10 to 12 knots. The pilot said that on the lee side of the hill, he encountered a downdraft followed immediately by an updraft. The pilot said he believed he encountered a wind rotor. The rapid changes in air mass movement distorted the balloon envelope and resulted in spilling some of the heated air. The balloon then entered a rapid descent the pilot was unable to arrest with three burners going and collided with the ground. The METAR for an airport 4 miles away at the time of the accident was reporting winds from 100 degrees at 8 knots. The pilot did not use pibals or other on sight wind quantification devices prior to launch. ## Factual narrative On August 11, 2000, at 0625 hours mountain standard time, a Balloon Works Firefly II, N7244X, encountered unusual wind conditions and collided with the ground after the envelope partially collapsed about 4 miles northeast of the Deer Valley Municipal Airport, Phoenix, Arizona. The balloon, operated by Hot Air Expeditions under 14 CFR Part 91, was not damaged. The commercial balloon pilot and 7 passengers were not injured; 1 passenger received serious injuries; and 2 passengers received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local for-hire sightseeing flight that departed from a remote launch site at 0617 and was scheduled for a 1-hour flight with a termination at the launch site. The pilot stated in his written report that a preflight weather briefing contained no flight precautions for the proposed flight area. The launch site is in a flood control basin near a dam and surrounded by hills. Following launch, the pilot contoured a hill, and as the balloon neared the top, it encountered a wind shear the pilot described as a direction change of 70 degrees with a speed of 10 to 12 knots. The pilot said that on the lee side of the hill, he encountered a downdraft followed immediately by an updraft. The pilot said he believed he encountered a wind rotor. The rapid changes in air mass movement distorted the balloon envelope and resulted in spilling some of the heated air. The balloon then entered a rapid descent the pilot was unable to arrest with three burners going and collided with the ground. The METAR for the Deer Valley Airport at the time of the accident was reporting winds from 100 degrees at 8 knots. The pilot did not report using pibals or other wind quantification devices prior to launch. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7244X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7244X-2015-05-06), registration cancelled 2015-05-06, S/N F11-008, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Balloon Works FIREFLY II - Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 11](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-11) (registry code 1050125) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: 11008-3-S - Airframe hours: 199 - Engines: unknown - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Hot Air Expeditions - Registered owner: Mars Leasing Co, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 14, 2000, 27 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; flight hours: 3,415 total, 375 in this make and model, 85 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 199 °F, dew point 147 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: DVT, 4 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 20000811040709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000811040709A), Aug 11, 2000: Balwks FIREFLY11, Phoenix, AZ. (.4) On August 11, 2000, at 0625 hours mountain standard time, a balloon works firefly ii, N7244X, encountered unusual wind conditions and collided with the… ## Other investigations on N7244X (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX04LA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA123), Feb 13, 2004: Balloon Works Firefly 11 (N7244X), Phoenix, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: the failure of the deflation vent line, which resulted in the pilot not being able to control the balloon in the increased wind conditions. 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.