Balloon Works FIREFLY8 - 24 and Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB30Z mid-air collision near Provo, Utah, July 2, 2015
On July 2, 2015 at about 1:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Balloon Works FIREFLY8 - 24 (N7148P) and Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB30Z (N11UW), were involved in a mid-air collision near Provo, Utah. 1 person had minor injuries; 5 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
**This report was modified on 4/21/2016. Please see the public docket for this accident for more information.** The failure of the Balony balloon pilot to see and avoid the Balloon Works balloon during an ascent, which resulted in the basket of the Balony balloon colliding vertically with the envelope of the Balloon Works balloon.
**This report was modified on 4/21/2016. Please see the public docket for this accident for more information.** The failure of the Balony balloon pilot to see and avoid the Balloon Works balloon during an ascent, which resulted in the basket of the Balony balloon colliding vertically with the envelope of the Balloon Works balloon.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 2015 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Provo, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 5 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Balloon Works FIREFLY8 - 24, built 1999 · all FIREFLY8 - 24s on the register
- Registration
- N7148P · no longer on the register · serial F8BS-01
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB30Z NO SERIES, built 2010 · all BB30Zs on the register
- Registration
- N11UW · registry record · serial 757
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Balloon Works FIREFLY8 - 24 final · quoted from the NTSB record
**This report was modified on 4/21/2016. Please see the public docket for this accident for more information.** The pilots of the two balloons involved in a midair collision reported that they both began the takeoff ascent as part of a competition. The Balloon Works balloon pilot, who was lower than the Balony balloon during the ascent, reported that his envelope collided vertically with the basket of the Balony balloon, about 2,000 feet above the ground. The Balony balloon pilot reported that he saw the Balloon Works balloon below him and started to use both of the available burners, but was unable to climb fast enough. A witness to the accident reported that the Balony balloon pilot did not use the balloon's burners until after the collision. After the midair collision, the Balloon Works balloon began to descend about 700 feet per minute and impacted the ground. The pilot of the Balony Balloon reported that he landed without further incident. Both of the pilots reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with their balloons or burners that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident inspection of the Balony balloon revealed no damage to the balloon or the burner. A postaccident inspection of the Balloon Works balloon revealed substantial damage to the envelope.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB30Z final · quoted from the NTSB record
**This report was modified on 4/21/2016. Please see the public docket for this accident for more information.** The pilots of the two balloons involved in a midair collision reported that they both began the takeoff ascent as part of a competition. The Balloon Works balloon pilot, who was lower than the Balony balloon during the ascent, reported that his envelope collided vertically with the basket of the Balony balloon, about 2,000 feet above the ground. The Balony balloon pilot reported that he saw the Balloon Works balloon below him and started to use both of the available burners, but was unable to climb fast enough. A witness to the accident reported that the Balony balloon pilot did not use the balloon's burners until after the collision. After the midair collision, the Balloon Works balloon began to descend about 700 feet per minute and impacted the ground. The pilot of the Balony Balloon reported that he landed without further incident. Both of the pilots reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with their balloons or burners that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident inspection of the Balony balloon revealed no damage to the balloon or the burner. A postaccident inspection of the Balloon Works balloon revealed substantial damage to the envelope.
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 for the Balloon Works FIREFLY8 - 24 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 3,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: none
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 238 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 9, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 1,900 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Burner Balloon Works F1 (none); 240 hours total
- Operator: Balloons West INC
The flight
- Departed from: Provo UT at 1:00 pm
- Destination: Provo UT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 12:55 pm from KPVU, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Balony Kubicek Spol Sro BB30Z from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all; 60 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 17, 2014
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,740 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 28, 2015
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Provo UT at 1:00 pm
- Destination: Provo UT
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.