Firefly Balloons Firefly 8B-15
Las Cruces, NM — September 4, 2022
Event Information
| Date | September 4, 2022 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | WPR22LA368 |
| Event ID | 20221004106058 |
| Location | Las Cruces, NM |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 32.32434, -106.80236 |
| Airport | N/A |
| Highest Injury | SERS |
Aircraft
| Make | Firefly Balloons |
| Model | Firefly 8B-15 |
| Category | BALL |
| FAR Part | 091 |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 1 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 2 |
| Total Injured | 1 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain the proper descent rate during the balloon’s approach to landing, which resulted in a hard landing and serious passenger injury.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.