NTSB investigations: Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15
13 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-15. 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
| 1993 | 3 |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 1 |
| 1995 | 1 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 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.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('1050118'))
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."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('1050118'))
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 CEN24LA093Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 7-15 · Albany, TXThe pilot’s failure to maintain a proper descent rate during the landing approach in a high wind condition.NTSB ERA23LA391Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 7 · Anderson, SCThe pilot’s failure to avoid trees during the descent for landing, resulting in substantial damage to the balloon.NTSB WPR19TA005Accident · Serious injuriesFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 7 · Placitas, NMThe 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.NTSB CEN12CA279Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 7-15 · Hallsville, MOThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during landing.NTSB DFW08LA206Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 7-15 · Mountain Grove, MOAn on-board fire following a propane leak. Contributing to the accident was the lack of training/experience of the non-certificated pilot.NTSB DEN00LA071Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly F-15 · Anthony, NMFailure by the pilot to keep the burner operating until the balloon was secured. A factor was the passengers disregarding the instructions they had been given by the pilot.NTSB CHI98LA184Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 7-15 · Waterloo, IAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the power lines during climb. A factor was the power lines.NTSB CHI96LA102Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 7-15 · Brighton, IAThe pilot's bone condition, which resulted in a fractured ankle during a normal touchdown.NTSB FTW96FA063Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 7-15 · Oklahoma City, OKThe pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance during low altitude straight and level flight.NTSB CHI94LA309Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Fire FLY 7-15 · Storm Lake, IAthe pilot's excessive rate of descent to landing. Factors in the accident were the gusts and downdraft.NTSB CHI94LA042Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 7-15 · Pratt, KSThe pilot-in-command's failure to maintain clearance from obstacles. Factors contributing to the accident are the pilot's misjudged fuel consumption calculations and the weather (high winds).NTSB NYC93LA143Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Fire FLY 7-15 · Milford, NHUnfavorable winds during landing which resulted in a hard landing and one passenger sustaining a broken angle.NTSB MIA93IA052Incident · Minor injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 7-15 · Orlando, FLPoor in-flight planning/decision by the pilot, and excessive descent resulting in a hard landing.