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Aircraft record

N3181ABalloon Works FIREFLY 8

DeregisteredUnclaimedSource: FAA, updated Oct 20, 2026

This N-number isn't registered right now. Below is its last known registration, canceled Jan 3, 2018.

Safety record in brief:1 NTSB accident (Sep 2011)No ADs since 1998 matched

Registration
Deregistered
Last based in
Newton, IA
owner city / state
Engine
NONE
None
Owners
1
since 2007
NTSB events
1
2011
ADs may apply
0
confirm with A&P
Service reports
0
since 1995

Registration

FAA Aircraft Registry · Oct 20, 2026
Last registered owner
Co-owners
City, state
Newton, IA
Certificate issued
Jul 25, 2007
Canceled
Jan 3, 2018
Airworthiness
Standard · Balloon
Airworthiness date
Oct 12, 1995

We never show street addresses, even though they appear in the public FAA file. Individual owners are shown by city and state only.

Airframe & engine

FAA Registry + type data

Airframe

Manufacturer
Balloon Works
Model
FIREFLY 8
Serial number
F8-413
Aircraft type
Balloon
Category
Land
Certification
Type Certificated
Seats
1
Max takeoff weight
Up to 12,499 lb
Mode S code
A36705

Engine

Make and model
None None
Type
None

Total time and engine hours aren't public. They appear here once the owner adds logbooks.

Ownership history

Ownership history from FAA records
  1. 2007 – 2018Co-ownersNewton, IA
  2. 1992Weaver Aero International INCHesston, KS · different airframe: Cessna 402c S/N 402c0288

Individual owners are shown by city and state only.

Safety record

NTSB · Oct 15, 2026 · FAA ADs · Oct 20, 2026 · SDRs · Oct 16, 2026

NTSB events (1)

Accident

Sep 17, 2011 · Mingo, IA

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the balloon’s descent during the landing, which resulted in the balloon having a hard landing in a ditch and causing a passenger to be seriously injured.

Injuries
Serious
Report
CEN11CA654

From NTSB records; matched by serial number.Read NTSB report (search CAROL for CEN11CA654)

Accident history for this model

ADs published since 1998 that may apply (0)

These match the airframe or engine model. Whether each one applies, and whether it's been complied with, depends on serial numbers, equipment and logbook entries. Applicability must be confirmed by a mechanic against the aircraft's records.

No ADs published since 1998 matched this airframe or engine model.

AI-extracted — verify against original. Matched from each AD's applicability section; ADs replaced by a later AD are left out.

Service Difficulty Reports (0)

No Service Difficulty Reports found for this airframe since 1995.

Sources

  • FAA Aircraft RegistryRegistration, owner city and state, airframe, engineupdated Oct 20, 2026
  • NTSB accident and incident databaseAccidents and incidents since 1982updated Oct 15, 2026
  • FAA Airworthiness Directives (Federal Register)ADs published since 1998updated Oct 20, 2026
  • FAA Service Difficulty ReportsReports since 1995updated Oct 16, 2026

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