Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-B accident near Longmont, Colorado, May 17, 1998
On May 17, 1998 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-B, registered N1527M, was involved in an accident near Longmont, 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 pilot's failure to properly position his foot for a high wind landing. Factors were high winds and windshear.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 1998 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Longmont, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works FIREFLY 7-B FIREFLY 7- · all FIREFLY 7-Bs on the register
- Registration
- N1527M · no longer on the register · serial 10987
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the landing approach, the winds were from the south at 5 to 7 knots. At 30 to 40 feet above the ground, the pilot encountered wind shear out of the east at 30 to 35 knots, and the intended landing was aborted. The pilot climbed to 150 agl and set up for a high wind landing. Upon touchdown, the pilot's foot was caught between the wicker siding and the solid floor of the basket, and the pilot's ankle was broken. According to the pilot, the accident would not have occurred had he not improperly placed his foot between the wicket basket and the floor plate of the balloon at the time the balloon impacted the ground.
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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 61 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 20 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 223 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 31, 1997; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,050 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Twin Lakes CO at 1:30 pm
- Destination: NONE CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:34 pm from FNL, 19 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.