NTSB investigations: Balloon Works FIREFLY 9
7 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Balloon Works FIREFLY 9. 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
| 1990 | 3 |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2008 | 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 ('1050120'))
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 ('1050120'))
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 DFW08LA088Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 9 · Questa, NMThe balloon's encounter with a wind gust/downdraft during landing, which resulted in a hard landing.NTSB SEA04CA109Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportBalloon Works Fire Fly 9 · Aurora, ORPilot's failure to compensate for wind conditions. Wind was a contributing factor.NTSB DEN99IA154Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 9 · Hartsel, COTotal failure of the deflation line due to heat damage (as evidenced by glazing), most likely caused by the improper use of the flight controls (burner system) by person(s) unknown.NTSB NYC98LA199Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly AX-9 · Brookhaven, NYThe failure of the passenger to comply with the pilot briefing, and properly brace herself for landing.NTSB DEN91LA007Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works AX9 · Cedar Crest, NMPilot's delayed precautionary landing and the subseuqent fuel exhaustion. A factor was the encounter with high winds in flight.NTSB LAX90LA340Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 9 · Vacaville, CAThe Balloon's encounter with a sudden increase in wind speed accompained by a strong down draft beyond the compensation capability of the Balloon.NTSB LAX90LA280Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBalloon Works Firefly 9 · Napa, CAThe flight's encounter with a probable microburst weather phenomena with down drafts and winds beyond the performance capability of the Balloon.