# NTSB WPR22LA368: Firefly Balloons Firefly 8B-15, N7067F, Las Cruces, NM, September 4, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 4, 2022, 07:15 local (13:15 UTC) - Place: Las Cruces, NM · Mayfield High School - Coordinates: 32.32434, -106.80236 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3243&lon=-106.8024&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 106058 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA368 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106058/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106058 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA368 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain the proper descent rate during the balloon’s approach to landing, which resulted in a hard landing and serious passenger injury. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1050111), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Communication (personnel): accuracy of communication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063515): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063515/cases.md?model=1050111), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063515/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=1050111), [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. - [Approach: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1050111), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1050111), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The balloon pilot reported that, after establishing level flight at 300 feet above ground level, he initiated an approach for landing, with a 200 feet per minute rate of descent. The balloon landed hard and bounced three times. The balloon was undamaged, but a passenger sustained serious leg and rib injuries. The pilot of the balloon reported that the technique of bending the knees upon landing was omitted in his passenger briefing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7067F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7067F), registered now, S/N F8B-566, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Firefly Balloons Firefly 8B-15 - Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B-15](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-8b-15) (registry code 1050111) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Balloon - Serial number: FB8-566 - Year built: 1998 - Airframe hours: 360 - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Balloon - Last inspection: Annual, September 23, 2021 - Departed: Las Cruces, NM - Destination: Las Cruces, NM - Airport: N/A, N/A ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; commercial; last flight review September 25, 2021; restraint: none; flight hours: 246 total, 15 in this make and model, 228 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: KLRU, 5 nm away - METAR: 041135Z AUTO 34004KT 10SM CLR 18/13 A3025 RMK AO2 T01760127 ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 9, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106058. 23.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 23.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14570702&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR22LA368_6120_flat_Redacted-Rel.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.