Balloon Works FIREFLY 8-24 accident near Phoenix, Arizona, April 5, 1987
On April 5, 1987 at about 2:40 pm local time, a Balloon Works FIREFLY 8-24, registered N3750D, was involved in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 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
- April 5, 1987 · about 2:40 pm local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works FIREFLY 8-24 FIREFLY 8- · all FIREFLY 8-24s on the register
- Registration
- N3750D · registry record · serial FS027
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PLEASURE BALLOON RIDE, THE BALLOON LIFTED OFF IN A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION THEN SHIFTED TO A SOUTH EASTERLY DIRECTION. THE PLT FELT THAT THE BALLOONS RESPONSE TIME FOR ADEQUATE LIFT TOOK TOO LONG. THE BALLOON BEGAN DRIFTING TOWARD 50 TO 60 FT POWER LINES. THE PLT DECIDED AT APRX 50 FT AGL TO LAND THE BALLOON. THE PILOT PULLED THE TOP OUT OF THE BALLOON WHICH DESCENDED RAPIDLY COLLIDING WITH THE TERRAIN. THE BALLOON CAME TO REST APRX 100 FT FROM THE POWER LINES.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 731 hours in all; 422 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 370 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 8, 1987; 81 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNKNOWN (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Phoenix AZ at 12:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from DVT, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N3750D 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.