# NTSB LAX88LA079: Balloon Works Firefly 8-24, N74169, Phoenix, AZ, January 1, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 1, 1988, 09:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Phoenix, AZ
- Location: 33.4484° N, 112.0740° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Phoenix, AZ, within about 13 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4484&lon=-112.0740&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 3 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 30, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25930
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX88LA079
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25930/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88LA079

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ground (contributing factor)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N74169](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N74169-2013-07-23), registration cancelled 2013-07-23, S/N F8-071 (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)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: F8071
- Airframe hours: 294
- Engines: UNKNOWN UNKNOWN unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Rainbow Balloon Flts
- Registered owner: Skiff, Jim
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 25, 1987, 27 hours before
- Departed: CAREFREE, AZ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial; flight hours: 381 total, 334 as pilot in command, 92 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 25 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 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 19880101001249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880101001249A), Jan 1, 1988: Balwks FIREFLY824, Peoria, AZ, Substantial damage. Made a hard high wind landing. Pilot was thrown out of basket after assisting a passenger that lost her grip.

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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