Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 accident near Littleton, Colorado, September 1, 1985
On September 1, 1985 at about 1:50 pm local time, a Balloon Works FIREFLY 7, registered N2259H, was involved in an accident near Littleton, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 1985 · about 1:50 pm local time
- Place
- Littleton, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 · all FIREFLY 7s on the register
- Registration
- N2259H · no longer on the register · serial 7765
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO LAND HIS BALLOON IN HIGH WINDS RESULTING A HARD LDG WHICH THREW HIM OUT OF THE BASKET THE BALLOON THEN BEGAN AN IMMEDIATE ASENT UNTIL A PAX PULLED THE VENT LINE AND THE BALLOON SETTLED RAPIDLY UNTIL IT HIT THE GRD. INJURIES TO PASSENGERS OCCURRED WHEN THE BALLOON STRUCK THE GRD THE 2ND TIME.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 141 hours in all; 141 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 108 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 13, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None NONE (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Littleton CO at 1:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:30 am from DEN, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.