A hot air balloon pilot flew low while searching for a proper landing site.

Attributes
ACN	237036
Time
Date	199303
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : trm
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : den
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 36 flight time total : 1630 flight time type : 36
ASRS Report	237036
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Due to light and variable winds (no definite speed or direction in the balloon), it was necessary to fly low to land, but took about 20 mins to land in a low flight phase. Due to the branches and garbage where I first landed, I took off again so as not to tear the balloon upon deflection. I again flew over 2 rows of homes on takeoff and stayed low to land again, which I accomplished in about 5 mins this time, landing safely about 1/2 mi away. I understand that I am exempt from minimum altitudes during takeoff and landing, so I feel I haven't broken any FARS, but someone unfamiliar with balloons may not have interpreted these phases correctly or the reasoning behind it. Balloons may be flown safely at low altitudes and landing phases are much safer when approachs are made at low altitudes. The public and FAA need to become more aware of safe balloon operations. A national organization is working for an exemption of all minimum altitudes for balloons through the FAA. The long landing phase of this flight was just that -- landing phase.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A HOT AIR BALLOON PLT FLEW LOW WHILE SEARCHING FOR A PROPER LNDG SITE.

Narrative: DUE TO LIGHT AND VARIABLE WINDS (NO DEFINITE SPD OR DIRECTION IN THE BALLOON), IT WAS NECESSARY TO FLY LOW TO LAND, BUT TOOK ABOUT 20 MINS TO LAND IN A LOW FLT PHASE. DUE TO THE BRANCHES AND GARBAGE WHERE I FIRST LANDED, I TOOK OFF AGAIN SO AS NOT TO TEAR THE BALLOON UPON DEFLECTION. I AGAIN FLEW OVER 2 ROWS OF HOMES ON TKOF AND STAYED LOW TO LAND AGAIN, WHICH I ACCOMPLISHED IN ABOUT 5 MINS THIS TIME, LNDG SAFELY ABOUT 1/2 MI AWAY. I UNDERSTAND THAT I AM EXEMPT FROM MINIMUM ALTS DURING TKOF AND LNDG, SO I FEEL I HAVEN'T BROKEN ANY FARS, BUT SOMEONE UNFAMILIAR WITH BALLOONS MAY NOT HAVE INTERPRETED THESE PHASES CORRECTLY OR THE REASONING BEHIND IT. BALLOONS MAY BE FLOWN SAFELY AT LOW ALTS AND LNDG PHASES ARE MUCH SAFER WHEN APCHS ARE MADE AT LOW ALTS. THE PUBLIC AND FAA NEED TO BECOME MORE AWARE OF SAFE BALLOON OPS. A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION IS WORKING FOR AN EXEMPTION OF ALL MINIMUM ALTS FOR BALLOONS THROUGH THE FAA. THE LONG LNDG PHASE OF THIS FLT WAS JUST THAT -- LNDG PHASE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.