Firefly 8B-15 N15095

Summary

On 19 April 2014 at about 14:15 local time, a Firefly 8B-15 registered N15095, operated by Howes Skip, was involved in an accident near Security, Colorado, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 April 2014 at 14:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Security, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

38.7511, -104.7114

Aircraft

Firefly 8B-15

Registration

N15095

Category

Balloon

Operator

Howes Skip

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Colorado Spring → Colorado Spring

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN14CA215

1 person was seriously injured.

An unexpected increase in wind velocity which resulted in a hard landing and the subsequent passenger injury.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported the wind was from the north-northwest at 6 knots when they departed and the balloon traveled to the southeast as expected. When they descended to land the wind velocity increased to 20 plus knots and the wind changed 90 degrees in direction moving them to the west. The pilot attempted to land twice and aborted both landings due to the wind and terrain conditions. The pilot briefed the passenger, who was very familiar with balloon operations, that they were going to make a high wind landing. The passenger stated he crouched down in the basket for the landing and as the triangular basket touched down and turned to its flat side, he felt his ankle roll. The basket lay down and once the balloon stopped they crawled out of the basket. The passenger stated he knew he injured his ankle and a couple days later he was diagnosed with a fractured tibia.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.