Firefly 8B-15 accident near Security, Colorado, April 19, 2014
On April 19, 2014 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Firefly 8B-15 (balloon), registered N15095, was involved in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Security, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An unexpected increase in wind velocity which resulted in a hard landing and the subsequent passenger injury.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 19, 2014 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Security, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Firefly 8B-15
- Registration
- N15095 · registry record · serial F8B-2027
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during enroute
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › High wind › Effect on operation
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Sudden wind shift › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 412 hours in all; 412 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 412 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 22, 2012
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,900 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Colorado Spring CO at 1:10 pm
- Destination: Colorado Spring CO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,500 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from COS, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on May 9, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | METAR | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.