# NTSB LAX86LA159: Balloon Works Firefly 8-24, N3694C, Pheonix, AZ, March 31, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 31, 1986, 07:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Pheonix, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.589225, -112.170677 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5892&lon=-112.1707&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25108
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX86LA159
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25108/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LA159

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - precautionary landing - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Altitude deviation,uncontrolled, descent - uncontrolled
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - proper descent rate - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - emergency procedure - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - passenger briefing - not followed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE BALLOON COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN DURING A SIGHT SEEING TOUR. THE PLT NOTICED THE DUST SIGNATURE OF GROUND TURBULENT WX PHENOMENA KNOWN AS ROTORS OR DUST DEVILS ARPX 3 MILES AHEAD. HE ELECTED TO MAKE AN IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AND DESCENDED TO AN ALT OF 75 FT AGL. THE BALLOON WAS DRIFTING AT 3 TO 5 KTS OVER AN ORCHARD ON FINAL APCH TO AN OPEN FLD WHEN IT ENCOUNTERED THE ADVERSE WIND. THE BALLOON CHANGED ITS' DIRECTION OF TRAVEL 180 DEGS. THE PLT INITIATED A CLIMB BY SWITCHING ON BOTH BURNERS, BUT THE BALLOON DESCENDED AND WAS DRAGGED THROUGH THE TREE TOPS OF THE ORCHARD. AT 20 FT AGL THE BALLOON BEGAN TO CLIMB TO AN ALT OF 100 TO 120 FT AND THEN ENCOUNTERED A STRONG DOWNDRAFT.THE PLT SHUT OFF BOTH BURNERS AND PILOT LIGHTS AND THEN ALERTED THE PASSENGERS. THE PLT PULLED THE PARACHUTE DEFLATION PORT AND THE BALLOON LANDED HARD. ON IMPACT ONE PASSENGER WAS THROWN FROM THE BASKET AND SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3694C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3694C-2014-10-02), registration cancelled 2014-10-02, S/N F8-050 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALLOON WORKS FIREFLY 8-24 (FIREFLY 8-)
- Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 8-24](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-8-24) (registry code 1050107) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: F8050
- Airframe hours: 262
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Mery Lee Patterson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 27, 1985, 68 hours before
- Departed: GLENDALE, AZ
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; commercial; flight hours: 1,200 total, 100 in this make and model, 67 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft overcast
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DVT, 11 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 19860331010839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860331010839A), Mar 31, 1986: Balwks FIREFLY824, Phoenix, AZ. Made a hard landing due to shifting winds and downdraft. Passenger thrown out of basket, seriously injured.

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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