Balloon Works FIREFLY 8 N9091R

Summary

On 6 August 2000 at about 13:00 local time, a Balloon Works FIREFLY 8 registered N9091R was involved in an accident near Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States. 5 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 August 2000 at 13:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Balloon Works FIREFLY 8

Registration

N9091R

Category

Balloon

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Catoosa

Aircraft damage

Minor

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW00LA224

1 person was seriously injured.

The passenger's failure to comply with the briefing administered by the pilot. Factors were the passenger's physical impairment due to an injury sustained during the initial ground impact and the high wind condition.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot briefed the passengers to expect a rough landing due to surface winds of to 8-10 knots. During the approach, the pilot intentionally 'touched the top of trees with the basket to slow the descent.' The pilot reported that during the descent he briefed the passengers three times to bend their knees, face forward, and hold on. The balloon initially contacted the ground hard and bounced back into the air. During the second ground impact, a passenger was ejected from the basket, and subsequently, the balloon basket 'rolled over him.' The passenger reported that 'he felt pain the first time the basket hit [and] let go.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.