# NTSB MIA08CA146: Firefly 7-15, N2131Y, Jamestown, RI, July 19, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 19, 2008, 07:45 local (11:45 UTC)
- Place: Jamestown, RI
- Coordinates: 41.527778, -71.366668
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5278&lon=-71.3667&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 29, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 68470
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA08CA146
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68470/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08CA146

## Probable cause

The pilot's excessive descent maneuver.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Firefly Balloons FIREFLY 7-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=1050151), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Firefly Balloons FIREFLY 7-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1050151), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The balloon pilot was not able to land at the intended site because he did not descend quickly enough. He continued flying while searching for an alternate landing location. He located a suitable landing area and started another descent. He then observed electrical power lines off to the side and advised his two passengers to prepare for a hard landing. The pilot induced a rapid descent to avoid the powers lines and the balloon landed hard. During the hard landing, one of the passengers suffered a serious foot injury.

## Factual narrative

The pilot of the Firefly 7-15 balloon stated that he was departing Richmond Airport (08R), West Kingston, Rhode Island, for the athletic field at the University of Rhode Island, where a balloon festival was taking place. After departing 08R with two passengers on a commercial sightseeing flight, he followed the path of several other balloons towards the athletic field. The pilot descended towards his intended landing target, but did not descend quickly enough and drifted past it to the south. He looked for alternate landing sites, but was unable to find one that was suitable. After crossing half of Narragansett Bay, and while running low on fuel, the pilot attempted to land in a small field in Jamestown. As he was descending he noticed power lines off to one side of the landing site. In order to avoid them, he descended quickly and instructed the passengers to bend their knees for impact. The balloon landed hard while avoiding the power lines. The balloon incurred no damage and one of the passengers suffered a serious foot injury.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2131Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2131Y-2012-08-30), registration cancelled 2012-08-30, S/N F7-2063, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Firefly 7-15
- Registry model: [Firefly Balloons FIREFLY 7-15](https://openairdocs.org/model/firefly-balloons-firefly-7-15) (registry code 1050151) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 72063-3-S
- Airframe hours: 19
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Registered owner: Randolph Riley
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2007
- Departed: 08R, West Kingston, RI
- Destination: NONE, Jamestown, RI
- Airport: OQU, Quonset State Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; commercial; last flight review August 1, 2007; flight hours: 140 total, 18 in this make and model, 115 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observed at: WST, 6 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 20080719840439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080719840439A), Jul 19, 2008: Balwks FIREFLY715, Jamestown, RI, No damage. (-23) Due to winds aloft pilot had to use alternate, unplanned landing site. Chase crew had a hold of drop rope and was in the process of bringing down 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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