# NTSB WPR19TA005: Balloon Works Firefly 7, N7252H, Placitas, NM, October 10, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report - Date: October 10, 2018, 09:43 local (15:43 UTC) - Place: Placitas, NM - Coordinates: 35.307498, -106.491111 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3075&lon=-106.4911&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 16, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 98448 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19TA005 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98448/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98448 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19TA005 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to properly estimate the height of terrain while descending the balloon, which resulted in the balloon impacting a hill and passengers sustaining serious injuries. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Perception/orientation/illusion: situational awareness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause) - [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause) - [Info processing/decision: expectation/assumption](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041525): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot ## Analysis The private pilot reported that, as he descended and maneuvered the balloon to check the wind for landing, the balloon impacted a hill that was higher than what he expected. He reported that the balloon's airspeed was between 15 and 20 mph when the collision occurred. Both passengers sustained a serious injury during the impact with the hill. Following the impact, the pilot initiated a burn to gain altitude, and shortly after, he landed the balloon with the assistance of his ground crew. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On October 10, 2018, about 0943 mountain daylight time, a Balloon Works Firefly 7-15 balloon, N7252H, experienced a hard landing in a field about 4 miles west of Placitas, New Mexico. The pilot was not injured and the two passengers sustained serious injuries. The balloon was not damaged. The balloon was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, Albuquerque, New Mexico, about 0851. The flight's destination was a landing area that was near the accident site. According to the pilot, as he descended and maneuvered the balloon to check the wind for landing, he inadvertently collided with a hill that was at a higher elevation than what he expected. He reported that the balloon's airspeed was between 15 to 20 mph during the collision. The balloon impacted the terrain firmly and both passengers sustained a broken ankle. The pilot subsequently landed the balloon uneventfully. The forecast wind at Albuquerque, located 17 nautical miles from the accident site, was 4 knots, while the wind reported by the pilot was between 6 to 8 knots. The pilot reported no mechanical failure or malfunction with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7252H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7252H), registered now, S/N F7-1103, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 (15) - 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: F7-1103 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 425.3 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Air race/show, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 30, 2018 - Departed: Albuquerque, NM - Destination: Placitas, NM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; last flight review March 19, 2017; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 437.7 total, 437.7 in this make and model, 437.7 as pilot in command, 9.8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1.3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: ABQ, 17 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 20181010019699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181010019699A), Oct 10, 2018: Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15, Placitas, NM, No damage. On October 10, 2018, at 9:50 MST, a Balloon Works, firefly 7-15, registered to [privacy data omitted], experienced a hard landing in the town of Placitas NM,… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 12, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98448. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470321&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.