Final NTSB investigations: Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B
12 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B. 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
| 1985 | 1 |
|---|---|
| 1986 | 1 |
| 1987 | 1 |
| 1988 | 1 |
| 1989 | 3 |
| 1990 | 1 |
| 1993 | 1 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 1997 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
Where
Open the mapLatest 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.\"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 ('1050110'))
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 ('1050110'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESCRun 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 GAA15CA157Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportBalloon Works FIREFLY8 - 24 · Provo, UT**This report was modified on 4/21/2016. Please see the public docket for this accident for more information.** The failure of the Balony balloon pilot to see and avoid the Balloon Works balloon during an ascent, which resulted in the basket of the Balony…NTSB LAX97LA118Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works AX-8B · Parker, AZthe pilot's inadequate in-flight planning, which resulted in an excessive descent and subsequent hard landing, due to a drop in fuel pressure along with shifting winds at low altitude.NTSB SEA96LA122Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 8B · Wilsonville, ORfailure of the pilot to maintain clearance from the static wire, which became shorted to a transmission wire and subsequently caused a fire to erupt on the balloon's envelope. Factors relating to the accident were: the obstructions (power line wires), and the…NTSB BFO93LA118Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 8B · Flemington, NJThe passenger's inadvertent activation of the burner after the landing, causing the terrain to burn and subsequently igniting the Balloon envelope.NTSB NYC90LA126Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBarnes Firefly 8B · Cazenovia, NYThe passengers failure to comply with the pilots instructions after a hard landing was made.NTSB NYC89LA212Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly · Hatboro, PAImproper in-flight planning/decision by the pilot which resulted in his failure to maintain clearance obstructions. A related factor was: the low level of propane (fuel), which resulted in low burner pressure.NTSB DEN89LA185Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 8B · Louisville, COThe pilot's failure to adequately evaluate the weather prior to takeoff. High winds developed during the Balloon flight which resulted in a rough landing.NTSB ATL89FA158Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 8B · Garner, NCImproper planning/decision by the pilot, and his delay in initiating a climb as the Balloon converged on the tv tower.NTSB DEN88LA152Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 8B · Fort Collins, COThis Balloon flt was part of a rally. The flt departed from a stadium, climbed to 500' and then made a controlled descent and landing. After the next takeoff and climb to about 125' when the burner was turned off the plt noticed that fuel was not flowing to…NTSB ATL87LA200Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 8B · Greenville, SCBalloon dtpted launch site about six miles sw of landing airport for a key grab during a Balloon ralley. Wind was about seven KTS according to PIC. Approaching field to land basket was dragged through tree tops to slow Balloon. Power line hidden by the trees…NTSB FTW86LRG15Accident · Minor injuriesFinal reportBalloon Works 8B · Round Rock, TXThe Balloon was damaged during landing in a wind of 15 KTS gusting to 40 KTS. The plt said that the surface wind increased during the flt. The Balloon was blown about 900 yds while dragging the basket across a grass field during the landing.NTSB ANC85LA140Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 8 · Anchorage, AKWhile the plt was approaching a field to land, the wind shifted & gusted, blowing the Balloon toward a light standard. The envelope grazed the standard, ripping the material near the top of the Balloon. The Balloon then landed in the field. The wind was…