# NTSB LAX07CA071: Balloon Works Firefly 9B-15, N9087Z, Peoria, AZ, January 17, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 17, 2007, 09:04 local (16:04 UTC) - Place: Peoria, AZ - Coordinates: 33.779445, -112.182502 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7794&lon=-112.1825&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 26, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 65174 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65174/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA071 ## Probable cause The balloon’s inadvertent encounter with a downdraft, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - downdraft (cause) - proper descent rate - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis A passenger was injured during a hard landing. The balloon pilot stated that he had selected a landing area on the west side of a highway, notified his ground crew of the location, and briefed the four passengers for landing. He was at an altitude of 200 feet agl with a descent rate of 200 fpm when the balloon encountered a downdraft. The pilot stated that he lit both burners in an attempt to arrest the rate of descent, notified the passengers to be prepared for a rough landing, and began to vent hot air from the balloon envelope to prevent a bounced landing. Upon contact with the ground, the basket tipped over and one of the passengers was tossed out. The balloon was now lighter without the passenger, rose back into the air, and drifted beyond intended landing zone. The pilot continued to the next closest suitable landing area and successfully landed the balloon. The ground crew located the passenger that had been tossed out of the basket. The passenger, who had sustained serious injuries, received medical attention and was transported to the hospital. The pilot reported that the local winds in the landing area were 180 degrees at 18 knots, and that there had been no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. The METAR at the closest airport, approximately 20 miles southeast of the accident location, recorded the wind as calm for the local time of 0853. ## Factual narrative A passenger was injured during a hard landing. The balloon pilot stated in the Pilot/Operator Accident Report that he had selected a landing area on the west side of a highway, notified his ground crew of the location, and briefed the four passengers for landing. He was at an altitude of 200 feet agl with a descent rate of 200 fpm when the balloon encountered a downdraft. The pilot stated that he lit both burners in an attempt to arrest the rate of descent, notified the passengers to be prepared for a rough landing, and began to vent hot air from the balloon envelope to prevent a bounced landing. Upon contact with the ground the basket tipped over and one of the passengers was tossed out. The balloon was now lighter without the passenger, rose back into the air, and passed the intended landing zone. The pilot continued to the next closest suitable landing area and successfully landed the balloon. The ground crew located the passenger that had been tossed out of the basket. The passenger, who had sustained serious injuries, received medical attention and was transported to the hospital. The pilot reported that the local winds in the landing area were 180 degrees at 18 knots, and that there had been no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. The METAR at the Scottsdale Airport, approximately 20 miles southeast of the accident location, recorded the wind to be calm for the local time of 0853. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9087Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9087Z-2014-06-26), registration cancelled 2014-06-26, S/N F9B-011, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Balloon Works Firefly 9B-15 - Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 9B-15](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-9b-15) (registry code 1050121) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: B9011-3-S - Damage: No damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Peoria, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; commercial; flight hours: 183 total, 17 in this make and model, 24 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 18 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20070117001539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070117001539A), Jan 17, 2007: Balwks FIREFLY9B15, Phoenix, AZ, Minor damage. (-23) Pilot was attempting to land and stated he encountered a downdraft during approach and subsequently made a hard landing. When the balloon collided with… 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.