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Final NTSB investigations: Balloon Works FIREFLY 8-24

16 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Balloon Works FIREFLY 8-24. 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.

Defining event

Finding

Phase of flight

Aircraft model

Cases per year

19782026

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Latest cases

Query with SQL

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."completionStatus" = 'Completed' AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('1050107')) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

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.\"completionStatus\" = 'Completed'
    AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('1050107'))
  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.

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."completionStatus" = 'Completed'
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('1050107'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

Run it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.

NTSB FTW98LA008Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 8-24 · Albuquerque, NMthe passenger's failure to follow procedures/directives for the landing.Oct 6, 1997 · N74056 · No damage NTSB LAX94LA337Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 8-24 · Sedona, AZa tip over of the balloon and basket during a high wind landing due to the pilot's inability to compensate for the increased wind speed conditions during the final stages of the flight and landing.Aug 23, 1994 · N90299 · No damage NTSB LAX91LA047Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 8-24 · Poway, CAThe pilot's failure to obtain a proper touchdown point. Contributing factors which related to the basket's tipping over were the pilot's misjudging the wind direction and the wind's relative high speed.Nov 26, 1990 · N7113U · Minor damage NTSB DEN89LA077Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works AX8-24 · Telluride, COIce forming in the fuel tank shut off valve, and the burner blast valve resulting in a loss of control during landing.Feb 14, 1989 · N7127J · Substantial damage NTSB LAX88LA079Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 8-24 · Phoenix, AZJan 1, 1988 · N74169 · Substantial damage NTSB LAX87LA168Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 8-24 · Phoenix, AZDuring a pleasure Balloon ride, the Balloon lifted off in a southerly direction then shifted to a south easterly direction. The plt felt that the balloons response time for adequate lift took too long. The Balloon began drifting toward 50 to 60 ft power…Apr 5, 1987 · N3750D · No damage NTSB LAX87LA160Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Barnes FF-8-24 · Phoenix, AZDuring a local sightseeing flight, the pilot reported that upon lift-off the weather conditions were clear and calm. During the flight, however, the wind conditions had increased from a westerly direction at a velocity of 12 knots, gusting to 15. The pilot…Mar 19, 1987 · N3750D · Minor damage NTSB MIA87LA030Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 8-24 · Brandon, FLA 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…Nov 4, 1986 · N37171 · No damage NTSB LAX86LA159Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 8-24 · Pheonix, AZThe Balloon collided with the terrain during a sight seeing tour. The plt noticed the dust signature of ground turbulent wx phenomena known as rotors or dust devils arpx 3 miles ahead. He elected to make an immediate precautionary landing and descended to an…Mar 31, 1986 · N3694C · No damage NTSB LAX84LA425Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Fire FLY 8-24 · Yountville, CAThe initial landing was in an area of limited access and the pilot elected to continue the flight over a tree line to a nearby more suitable field. In order to avoid being carried into a second downwind tree line, the plt descended the Balloon into the field…Jul 27, 1984 · N27046 · No damage NTSB SEA84LA144Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Barnes AX-8 · Monroe, WADuring the ballon descent, the plt said he briefed the passengers to bend their knees & hold onto something inside the basket. According to the plt , the descent became more rapid due to a downdraft. The passengers were again warned to 'hang on' because it…Jun 24, 1984 · N1509H · No damage NTSB CHI84LA216Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Barnes Firefly 8-24 · Burnsville, MNThe Balloon landed without incident. According to the plt, the envelope was being deflated when a gust of wind tipped the basket. The plt said he saw a young boy with his leg under the basket. The plt lifted the edge of the basket by stepping out of it to…May 27, 1984 · N3679A · No damage NTSB LAX84LA231Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Fire FLY 8-24 · Phoenix, AZThe plt took off on a sight-seeing Balloon flt with 5 passengers whose ages were reportedly from 65 to 83 yrs old. About 1 hr & 15 mins later, he landed on desert terrain in winds that he estimated were aprx 10 KTS gusting to 15 KTS. During touchdown, the…Mar 24, 1984 · N36104 · Minor damage NTSB CHI83LA310Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 8-24 · Hamel, MNDuring flt, the plt used fuel from 2 of 4 propane tanks, then switched to the 2nd 2 tanks & started a descent. At aprx 300 ft AGL, he tried to start the burner, but could not get a light because the pilot light was out. He attempted to manually relight the…Jul 13, 1983 · N1509W · Substantial damage NTSB DEN79DTE59Accident · Serious injuriesClosedBalloon WKS FF-8 · Center, COJul 9, 1979 · N40434 · Minor damage NTSB ANC78DAA11Accident · No injuriesClosedBalloon WKS FF-8 · Fairbanks, AKMar 30, 1978 · N2088F · Substantial damage