Balloon Works Firefly 7-15 accident near Albany, Texas, January 13, 2024
On January 13, 2024 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 1995 Balloon Works Firefly 7-15, registered N2582U, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Albany, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper descent rate during the landing approach in a high wind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 13, 2024 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Albany, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works Firefly 7-15, built 1995 · all Firefly 7-15s on the register
- Registration
- N2582U · registry record · serial 7879-3-5
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was unable to arrest the balloon’s descent during a high wind landing approach, during which the balloon contacted trees. The balloon sustained substantial damage to the envelope and load tape. The pilot sustained a serious injury when he was ejected from the basket during the hard landing. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent rate › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › High wind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 38 hours in all; 36 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 6, 2023
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: none
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 119 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 1,050 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Abilene TX at 1:42 pm
- Destination: Albany TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 14 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 8:52 am from KABI, 27 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KABI 131452Z 21014G20KT 10SM CLR 07/M09 A2990 RMK AO2 SLP126 T00671089 53007=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN24LA093.