Balloon Works FIREFLY 8-24 accident near Sedona, Arizona, August 23, 1994
On August 23, 1994 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Balloon Works FIREFLY 8-24, registered N90299, was involved in an accident near Sedona, Arizona. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a tip over of the balloon and basket during a high wind landing due to the pilot's inability to compensate for the increased wind speed conditions during the final stages of the flight and landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 1994 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sedona, Arizona
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works FIREFLY 8-24 FIREFLY 8- · all FIREFLY 8-24s on the register
- Registration
- N90299 · no longer on the register · serial F8-300
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PRIOR TO TAKE OFF, THE PILOT LAUNCHED A PIBAL WHICH INDICATED THAT THE SURFACE WIND WAS NEARLY CALM, AND THE WINDS ALOFT WERE ABOUT 5 MPH. BETWEEN 5 AND 7 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE PLANNED TIME OF LANDING, THE WIND SPEED INCREASED TO ABOUT 8 MPH. AT THE TIME, THE BALLOON WAS OVERFLYING UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING. AFTER A FEW ADDITIONAL MINUTES OF FLYING, THE PILOT LOCATED A CLEAR AREA. THE PILOT BRIEFED THE PASSENGERS TO PREPARE FOR A NON-STANDUP HIGH WIND LANDING. ALTHOUGH AT TOUCHDOWN THE PILOT VENTED AIR FROM THE BALLOON, IT TIPPED OVER AND DRAGGED ALONG THE TERRAIN BETWEEN 75 AND 100 FEET BEFORE COMING TO A STOP.
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: 280 hours in all; 15 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 238 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 441 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 11, 1993; 99 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,020 lb
- Seats: 0
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE AZ at 1:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 8 knots
- 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 | 1 | 2 |
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.