Firefly Galaxy 9 accident near Lewisburg, West Virginia, September 25, 2004
On September 25, 2004 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Firefly Galaxy 9 (balloon), registered N2200Z, suffered minor damage in an accident near Lewisburg, West Virginia. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed; 6 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper decision to attempt to board the balloon while it was ascending.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 25, 2004 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lewisburg, West Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 6 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Firefly Galaxy 9
- Registration
- N2200Z · registry record · serial GLX-1069
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After landing in a field, six passengers and the pilot exited the hot-air balloon. Shortly after, an airplane flew "very low" over the top of the balloon, and the balloon began to ascend. The pilot stated that he "knew a trick," and proceeded to wrap a rope around his leg, as the balloon continued to ascend. As it reached an altitude of about 80 feet, the pilot fell from the rope, which was hanging from the basket.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 50 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Lewisburg WV
- Destination: Lewisburg WV
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 340° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,600 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 10:38 pm from LWB, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
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.