Balloon Works Fire Fly 9 accident near Aurora, Oregon, June 17, 2004
On June 17, 2004 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Balloon Works Fire Fly 9, registered N3097R, suffered minor damage in an accident near Aurora, Oregon (Aurora State airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Pilot's failure to compensate for wind conditions. Wind was a contributing factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 2004 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Aurora, Oregon · Aurora State · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Balloon Works Fire Fly 9 · all Fire Fly 9s on the register
- Registration
- N3097R · no longer on the register · serial F9-063
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that after about one hour of flight he "...came down to the surface to set up for a landing." He stated the winds were greater than expected (estimated to be 10-12 MPH) and prepared for a high wind landing. The pilot stated that during the landing approach the basket "...impacted land and dragged approximately 30-40 yards before coming to a stop" on its side.
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: 716 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 287 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 7, 2003; 39 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Tigard OR at 6:15 am
- Destination: Aurora OR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 | 4 |
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.