# NTSB MIA87LA030: Balloon Works Firefly 8-24, N37171, Brandon, FL, November 4, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 4, 1986, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Brandon, FL
- Coordinates: 27.91975, -82.290046 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9198&lon=-82.2900&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31825
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA87LA030
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31825/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87LA030

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - passenger briefing - not followed, passenger (contributing factor)

## Analysis

A HIGH SINK RATE WAS NOT ARRESTED PRIOR TO THE HARD LDG. THE PLT STATED THAT HE BRIEFED THE PAX ON LDG PROCEDURES WHICH INCLUDED A TIGHT GRIP IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERG LDG. THE PAX STATEMENTS DIFFERED FROM THOSE OF THE BALLOON CREW CONCERNING THE CONTENT OF THE PRE FLT BRIEFING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N37171](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N37171-2014-11-13), registration cancelled 2014-11-13, S/N F8-070, built 1985 (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: F8-070
- Airframe hours: 81
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Baloon Depot, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 20, 1985, 81 hours before
- Flight plan: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; commercial; flight hours: 61 total, 8 in this make and model, 48 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TPA, 12 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 19861104060169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861104060169A), Nov 4, 1986: Balwks FIREFLY824, Brandon, FL. The balloon landed hard and passengers were injured when they let go of the basket.

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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