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

January 17, 2007 · Balloon Works Firefly 9B-15 · N9087Z

Peoria, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 17, 2007
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury), 4 uninjured
Location
Peoria, AZ
Aircraft
Balloon Works Firefly 9B-15
Tail Number
N9087Z
Operator
Adventures Aloft
Injuries
Serious
NTSB Number
LAX07CA071

A passenger was injured during a hard landing. The balloon pilot stated that he had selected a landing area on the west side of a highway, notified his ground crew of the location, and briefed the four passengers for landing. He was at an altitude of 200 feet agl with a descent rate of 200 fpm when the balloon encountered a downdraft. The pilot stated that he lit both burners in an attempt to arrest the rate of descent, notified the passengers to be prepared for a rough landing, and began to vent hot air from the balloon envelope to prevent a bounced landing. Upon contact with the ground, the basket tipped over and one of the passengers was tossed out. The balloon was now lighter without the passenger, rose back into the air, and drifted beyond intended landing zone. The pilot continued to the next closest suitable landing area and successfully landed the balloon. The ground crew located the passenger that had been tossed out of the basket. The passenger, who had sustained serious injuries, received medical attention and was transported to the hospital. The pilot reported that the local winds in the landing area were 180 degrees at 18 knots, and that there had been no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. The METAR at the closest airport, approximately 20 miles southeast of the accident location, recorded the wind as calm for the local time of 0853.

NTSB Probable Cause

The balloon’s inadvertent encounter with a downdraft, which resulted in a hard landing.

Full Narrative

A passenger was injured during a hard landing. The balloon pilot stated in the Pilot/Operator Accident Report that he had selected a landing area on the west side of a highway, notified his ground crew of the location, and briefed the four passengers for landing. He was at an altitude of 200 feet agl with a descent rate of 200 fpm when the balloon encountered a downdraft. The pilot stated that he lit both burners in an attempt to arrest the rate of descent, notified the passengers to be prepared for a rough landing, and began to vent hot air from the balloon envelope to prevent a bounced landing. Upon contact with the ground the basket tipped over and one of the passengers was tossed out. The balloon was now lighter without the passenger, rose back into the air, and passed the intended landing zone. The pilot continued to the next closest suitable landing area and successfully landed the balloon. The ground crew located the passenger that had been tossed out of the basket. The passenger, who had sustained serious injuries, received medical attention and was transported to the hospital. The pilot reported that the local winds in the landing area were 180 degrees at 18 knots, and that there had been no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. The METAR at the Scottsdale Airport, approximately 20 miles southeast of the accident location, recorded the wind to be calm for the local time of 0853.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:04 MST
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo

Aircraft

AircraftBalloon Works Firefly 9B-15
Tail NumberN9087Z
Aircraft CategoryBall
OperatorAdventures Aloft
Operating RulePart 91
Engines0

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury), 4 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured4
Total5
Crew 1Age 48 · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 18 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data