Summary
On September 11, 2008, a Firefly Balloons 8B-15 (N2053D) was involved in an accident near Springfield, IL. The accident resulted in 1 serious injury, with 3 people uninjured out of 4 aboard.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The failure of the passenger to follow the pilot's instructions by not steadying herself during the landing.
The pilot reported the ground winds were 1 to 2 miles per hour, and the winds between 500 and 1,500 feet above the ground varied from 5 to 8 miles per hour during the uneventful flight. He reported he chose a backyard in which to land, and at an altitude of seven to nine feet above the ground they threw a line out to the chase crew to slow them down. The pilot reported that before reaching the ground, two more chase crewmembers grabbed the gondola to slow them down even more and to soften the landing. Upon touching down, one passenger lost her balance and fell into a 91 year old passenger, knocking her to the bottom of the gondola. The 91 year old passenger suffered two broken legs and a broken ankle.
This accident is documented in NTSB report CHI08CA281. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N2053D.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The failure of the passenger to follow the pilot's instructions by not steadying herself during the landing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
The pilot reported the ground winds were 1 to 2 miles per hour, and the winds between 500 and 1,500 feet above the ground varied from 5 to 8 miles per hour during the uneventful flight. He reported he chose a backyard in which to land, and at an altitude of seven to nine feet above the ground they threw a line out to the chase crew to slow them down. The pilot reported that before reaching the ground, two more chase crewmembers grabbed the gondola to slow them down even more and to soften the landing. Upon touching down, one passenger lost her balance and fell into a 91 year old passenger, knocking her to the bottom of the gondola. The 91 year old passenger suffered two broken legs and a broken ankle. The pilot reported that prior to the departure, all of the passengers were instructed to hold on tight, bend their knees, and stay inside the gondola during the landing.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CHI08CA281