Balloon Works FIREFLY-7 accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 9, 1993
On October 9, 1993 at about 3:28 pm local time, a Balloon Works FIREFLY-7, registered N4058A, was destroyed in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE P[ILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION TO ATTEMPT CONTINUED FLIGHT UNDER THE EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS. THE ADVERSE WIND WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 9, 1993 · about 3:28 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works FIREFLY-7 · all FIREFLY-7s on the register
- Registration
- N4058A · no longer on the register · serial 10105
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES SAID THE BALLOON'S ENVELOPE WAS 'DISTORTED', 'PANCAKED', AND APPEARED TO 'FILL WITH AIR AND DEFLATE RAPIDLY.' THE BASKET WAS SEEN 'TURNING AND SWINGING.' WITNESSES SAID THE BALLOON WAS ABOVE THE POWER LINES, AND THE PILOT ACTIVATED THE BURNER IN AN ATTEMPT TO ASCEND. INSTEAD, IT DESCENDED RAPIDLY INTO THE LINES 'AS IF BEING PUSHED FROM ABOVE.' AFTER CONTACTING THE WIRES, THE BASKET FELL TO THE GROUND AND THE ENVELOPE DRIFTED AWAY. SURFACE WINDS WERE ESTIMATED AT 10-20 KTS. ONE PILOT WITNESS EXPERIENCED A WIND SHEAR INDUCED HARD LANDING ABOUT 30 MIN PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THERE WERE MULTIPLE OTHER HARD LANDINGS REPORTED THAT MORNING.
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: 206 hours in all; 192 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 166 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 584 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 26, 1993; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,660 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from ABQ, 10 miles away
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.
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.