# NTSB MIA93IA052: Balloon Works Firefly 7-15, N9056D, Orlando, FL, January 2, 1993

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · Minor injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: January 2, 1993, 08:15 local (13:15 UTC)
- Place: Orlando, FL
- Coordinates: 28.500789, -81.370773 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5008&lon=-81.3708&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 10, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33182
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA93IA052
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33182/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA93IA052

## Probable cause

POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND EXCESSIVE DESCENT RESULTING 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
  - descent - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING AN APPROACH TO A FIELD, HE OBSERVED OBSTACLES AHEAD AND INITIATED A CLIMB TO CLEAR THEM. HE THEN INITIATED AN IMMEDIATE DESCENT FOR A LANDING IN THE NEXT CLEARING BECAUSE OF OBSTACLES AT THE FOR END OF THE FIELD.  THE BALLOON LANDED HARD, BOUNCED, THEN TOUCHED DOWN, AND THE GONDOLA TIPPED OVER AND WAS DRAGGED FOR ABOUT 80 FEET.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9056D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9056D-2023-03-04), registration cancelled 2023-03-04, S/N F7-727, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALLOON WORKS FIREFLY 7-15 (FIREFLY 7-)
- Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-7-15) (registry code 1050118) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: F7-727
- Airframe hours: 128
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Garrett, Ronald L.
- Registered owner: Garrett, Ronald L.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 1992, 45 hours before
- Departed: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; commercial; medical: unknown; flight hours: 166 total, 7 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 63 °F

## 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 19930102002479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930102002479A), Jan 2, 1993: Balwks FIREFLY7, Orlando, FL. Made hard landing. Basket tipped over and dragged 80 feet. Passengers ankle was broken on impact.

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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