Balloon Works INC FIREFLY II accident near Phoenix, Arizona, September 28, 2003
On September 28, 2003 at about 3:20 pm local time, a Balloon Works INC FIREFLY II, registered N7021U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona (Phoenix Deer Valley airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 10 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's diverted attention that resulted in the inadequate handling of the burner during ground operations.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 2003 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · Phoenix Deer Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 10 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works INC FIREFLY II
- Registration
- N7021U · no longer on the register · serial F11-006
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The balloon sustained fire damage to the envelope while it was on the ground. One of the passengers became ill during the flight. The pilot landed the balloon in a field, and he waited for the ground crew to arrive. While he was waiting, he applied heat to the balloon to keep it standing. Each time that he applied burner, he would look to ensure that it was not contacting the envelope. Just as the ground crew arrived, he glanced at the balloon and began another burn. As he was speaking with the crew, the flame made contact with the envelope. The crew evacuated the passengers from the balloon as portions of the burning fabric fell from it. Several panels were directly burned; melting fabric damaged others. The pilot noted no mechanical problems with the balloon.
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: 730 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 3,940 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Get Carried Away Hot Air Balloon Company
The flight
- Departed from: Phoenix AZ
- Destination: Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 9 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N7021U the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.