Balloon Works FIRE FLY 8-24 accident near Yountville, California, July 27, 1984
On July 27, 1984 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Balloon Works FIRE FLY 8-24, registered N27046, was involved in an accident near Yountville, California. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 4 others were 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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 1984 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Yountville, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works FIRE FLY 8-24 FIRE FLY 8
- Registration
- N27046 · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INITIAL LANDING WAS IN AN AREA OF LIMITED ACCESS AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE FLIGHT OVER A TREE LINE TO A NEARBY MORE SUITABLE FIELD. IN ORDER TO AVOID BEING CARRIED INTO A SECOND DOWNWIND TREE LINE, THE PLT DESCENDED THE BALLOON INTO THE FIELD AT A HIGHER THAN NORMAL RATE. PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN THE PLT CAUTIONED THE PASSENGERS THAT THEY WERE GOING TO 'HIT HARD.' A 75 YEAR OLD PASSENGER SUFFERED A BROKEN RIB. THE PLT STATED THAT SHE NEVER BRIEFS THE PASSENGERS BEFORE THE FLIGHT ON WHAT TYPE OF LANDING TO EXPECT OR THE POSSIBLE HAZARD OF GETTING HURT DURING THE LANDING.
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: 133 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 95 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 899 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, July 19, 1984; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Yountville CA at 2:30 pm
- Destination: Yountville CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 3 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 |
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.