Amateur-built FIREFLY 8B accident near Cazenovia, New York, June 10, 1990
On June 10, 1990 at about 11:10 am local time, a amateur-built FIREFLY 8B (balloon), registered N3702M, was involved in an accident near Cazenovia, New York. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PASSENGERS FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE PILOTS INSTRUCTIONS AFTER A HARD LANDING WAS MADE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 10, 1990 · about 11:10 am local time
- Place
- Cazenovia, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built FIREFLY 8B
- Registration
- N3702M · no longer on the register · serial F8B-009
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT MADE A HARD LANDING WITH WINDS ESTIMATED AT 12 KNOTS AND TIPPED OVER. ONE PASSENGER WAS THROWN OUT AS THE BASKET TIPPED OVER AND TWO OTHER PASSENGERS IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE BASKET. THE BASKET, RELEIVED OF THE WEIGHT OF THREE PASSENGERS BECAME AIRBORNE AND THE WIND BLEW IT INTO THE PASSENGERS WHO WERE OUTSIDE THE BASKET, INFLICTING INJURIES. THE PILOT SAID THE PASSENGERS FAILED TO FOLLOW THE BRIEFING HE GAVE THEM PRIOR TO LANDING TO STAY IN THE BASKET WHEN IT TIPPED OVER.
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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 69 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 55 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 193 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, April 3, 1990; 9 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNKNOWN (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Jamesville NY at 10:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.