NTSB investigations: Balloon Works FIREFLY 7, NM

10 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Balloon Works FIREFLY 7. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

Cases per year

19822026
NTSB investigations: Balloon Works FIREFLY 7, NM per year, 1982–2026: 10 cases
19823
19831
19861
19871
19881
19931
19961
19981

Latest cases

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
  WHERE c.\"eventStateOrRegion\" = 'NM' AND c.\"eventCountry\" = 'USA'
    AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('1050100'))
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

NTSB DEN99LA006Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works FIREFLY-7 · Alberquerque, NMThe passenger's failure to follow procedures/directives for a hard landing. A factor was the congested/confined landing area with power lines on both ends.Oct 8, 1998 · N36609 · No damageNTSB FTW96LA361Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 7 · Rio Rancho, NMthe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power lines. The variable wind condition was a related factor.Aug 24, 1996 · N7414U · Substantial damageNTSB FTW94FA008Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBalloon Works FIREFLY-7 · Albuquerque, NMThe p[ilot's improper decision to attempt continued flight under the existing wind conditions. The adverse wind was a contributing factor.Oct 9, 1993 · N4058A · DestroyedNTSB DEN89LA005Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 7 · Albuquerque, NMThe commercial Balloon plt and one pax were participating in a Balloon fiesta. The acft took off from Albuquerque, on a local flight in light winds. At altitude, the Balloon encountered easterly winds that carried the Balloon southwest of Albuquerque, where a…Oct 4, 1988 · N3678E · Substantial damageNTSB DEN88LA010Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 7 · Albuquerque, NMTwo balloons, a rally and a firefly, collided in flight during the Albuquerque international Balloon fiesta. The pilot of the firely was climbing at approximately 300 feet per minute when his envelope contacted the basket of the rally. The pilot of the rally…Oct 5, 1987 · N36988 · 2 aircraft · Substantial damageNTSB DEN86LA189Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 7 · Hurley, NMDuring landing, one of the paxs in the Balloon basket suffered a broken ankle. Plt says landing was a normal rip out landing. Neither he nor pax knows how injury occurred.Jul 5, 1986 · N37486 · No damageNTSB FTW84LA087Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 7 · Albuquerque, NMThe plt reported that during flt, unfavorable winds were encountered. An apch was made to a golf course, but the plt aborted dur to high winds. A short time later, an apch was made to a park area. According to the plt, the wind switched as the Balloon touched…Dec 3, 1983 · N4061P · Substantial damageNTSB FTW83LA005Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 7 · Albuquerque, NMThe Balloon collided with trees while landing in a zoo parking lot. The weather was VMC and no flight plan was filed. The pilot stated that in attempting to land next to the Balloon they were chasing in a hound and hare game, he allowed the gondola to drag…Oct 4, 1982 · N58LB · Substantial damageNTSB FTW83LA010Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 7 · Albuquerque, NMThe Balloon landed in high winds and was dragged by the envelope for about 150 yards. While the gondola was being dragged a passengers boot got caught and twisted his leg so that both bones were broken. The weather was VMC and no flight plan was filed. The…Oct 2, 1982 · N4068K · No damageNTSB FTW82FQA21Accident · Serious injuriesFinal reportBarnes AX-7 · Albuquerque, NMThe pilot stated she made a practice landing near a large hill and had no problems landing. She continued flight for approximately 20 minutes and prepared to land on a road. The balloon impacted a road embankment at touchdown and the pilot broke her leg. She…Jul 4, 1982 · N2045F · No damage