Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

September 2, 1995 · Balloon Works Firefly 7 · N90555

Colorado Spgs, CO

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 2, 1995
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Colorado Spgs, CO
Aircraft
Balloon Works Firefly 7
Tail Number
N90555
Injuries
Serious
NTSB Number
FTW95LA376

DURING THE FINAL STAGE OF LANDING, THE BALLOON ENCOUNTERED A WIND SHIFT AND THE LANDING WAS HARD. THE BASKET REMAINED UPRIGHT, BUT FOLLOWING THE LANDING THE PASSENGER INFORMED THE PILOT HE HAD BROKEN HIS ANKLE. THE BALLOON WAS NOT DAMAGED.

NTSB Probable Cause

AN ENCOUNTER WITH A WIND SHIFT DURING LANDING.

Full Narrative

On September 2, 1995, at 0730 mountain daylight time, a Balloon Works Firefly 7, N90555, made a high wind landing near Colorado Springs, Colorado. The private pilot was not injured and her passenger received serious injuries. The balloon was not damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this 14 CFR Part 91 local area passenger flight and no flight plan was filed. According to the pilot, a hard landing was conducted with the winds variable at 7 to 12 knots. Following the landing, during which the basket remained upright, the passenger told the pilot that he thought he had broken his ankle. The pilot stated she thought they had encountered a low level wind shear. However, the investigation provided no evidence that microburst/windshear conditions were present in the area during the time period when the accident occurred.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time07:30 MDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBalloon Works Firefly 7
Tail NumberN90555
Aircraft CategoryBall
Operating RulePart 91
Engine TypeUnknown
Engine DetailsUnknown

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 48 · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind350° @ 7 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 46
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time13:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data