Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B accident near Fort Collins, Colorado, July 4, 1988
On July 4, 1988 at about 1:40 pm local time, a Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B, registered N7420S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Collins, 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
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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 1988 · about 1:40 pm local time · cases in 1988
- Place
- Fort Collins, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works FIREFLY 8B · all FIREFLY 8Bs on the register
- Registration
- N7420S · registry record · serial F8B 044
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THIS BALLOON FLT WAS PART OF A RALLY. THE FLT DEPARTED FROM A STADIUM, CLIMBED TO 500' AND THEN MADE A CONTROLLED DESCENT AND LANDING. AFTER THE NEXT TAKEOFF AND CLIMB TO ABOUT 125' WHEN THE BURNER WAS TURNED OFF THE PLT NOTICED THAT FUEL WAS NOT FLOWING TO THE PLT LIGHT. WHILE ATTEMPTING CORRECTIVE ACTION THE BALLOON COOLED AND BEGAN TO DESCEND. THE BALLOON WAS DRIFTING TOWARD POWERLINES AND UPON REACHING 50 TO 75' AGL, THE PLT DECIDED TO OPEN THE VENT FULL AND MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING. DURING THE LANDING THE BALLOON DRAPED OVER A FENCE AND THE PASSENGER SUFFERED A BROKEN ANKLE. THE PILOT STATED THAT IT IS LIKELY SHE INADVERTENTLY BUMPED THE PILOT LIGHT VALVE WHILE WORKING THE MAIN FUEL VALVE. SHE REPORTED THAT AFTER THE ACCIDENT BOTH THE MAIN AND PILOT FUEL SYSTEMS WERE CHECKED AND FOUND OK.
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: 117 hours in all; 109 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 117 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 80 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 1988; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,660 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNKNOWN (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Operator: W Sebastian & CO
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 1:15 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N7420S on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Balloon Works FIREFLY 8 183 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Balloon Works 565 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Unknown UNKNOWN · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Colorado 2,860 since 1982 · 383 in the last ten years
- Colorado 7,484 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DEN88LA152.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.