Balloon Works FIRE FLY 8-24 N36104

Summary

On 24 March 1984 at about 01:30 local time, a Balloon Works FIRE FLY 8-24 registered N36104 was involved in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona, United States. 6 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured, 3 had minor injuries. The aircraft was slightly damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

24 March 1984 at 01:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

33.6196, -112.1705

Aircraft

Balloon Works FIRE FLY 8-24

Registration

N36104

Category

Balloon

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Glendale → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Minor

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX84LA231

2 people were seriously injured.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE 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 BASKET DESCEND INTO VEGETATION & TIPPED OVER ONTO ITS SIDE. THE PLT HAD INSTRUCTED THE PASSENGERS TO MOVE TO THE BACK OF THE BASKET, BRACE THEMSELVES & TO SQUAT DOWN JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN. HOWEVER, SEVERAL PASSENGERS STOOD UP & EXTENDED THEIR ARMS UPWARD TO BRACE THEMSELVES. WHEN THE BASKET TIPPED OVER, 1 OF THE PASSENGER'S ARMS WAS CAUGHT BENEATH IT. SEVERAL OTHER PASSENGERS FELL ON TOP OF THE OTHERS. ONE OF THE PASSENGERS SUFFERED A BROKEN WRIST; ANOTHER SUFFERED 3 BROKEN RIBS. THE SERIOUSLY INJURED PASSENGERS WERE 70 & 83 YRS OF AGE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.