A hot air balloon pilot, flying a tbw FF7 balloon, may have entered the fnt class C airspace without...

Attributes
ACN	347993
Time
Date	199609
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fnt
State Reference	MI
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Balloon
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	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 : 30 flight time total : 500 flight time type : 80
ASRS Report	347993
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : far other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was flying a hot air balloon, tracking nne approximately 5 mi east of fnt. According to landmarks on the ground, particularly the railroad tracks heading north out of the town of grand blanc, I believe I was just outside of the 5 mi ring. A jet departing runway 9 at fnt flew directly over me (but at an altitude giving us far greater separation than necessary). I was 200 ft AGL at the time, approaching my landing field. The problem could be prevented by: 1) choosing a different launch site when wind directions are going toward class B, C, or D airspace. 2) ending the flight before there is any question of reaching class B, C, or D airspace. 3) using an aircraft radio and requesting permission to enter class B, C, or D airspace.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A HOT AIR BALLOON PLT, FLYING A TBW FF7 BALLOON, MAY HAVE ENTERED THE FNT CLASS C AIRSPACE WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING A HOT AIR BALLOON, TRACKING NNE APPROX 5 MI E OF FNT. ACCORDING TO LANDMARKS ON THE GND, PARTICULARLY THE RAILROAD TRACKS HEADING N OUT OF THE TOWN OF GRAND BLANC, I BELIEVE I WAS JUST OUTSIDE OF THE 5 MI RING. A JET DEPARTING RWY 9 AT FNT FLEW DIRECTLY OVER ME (BUT AT AN ALT GIVING US FAR GREATER SEPARATION THAN NECESSARY). I WAS 200 FT AGL AT THE TIME, APCHING MY LNDG FIELD. THE PROB COULD BE PREVENTED BY: 1) CHOOSING A DIFFERENT LAUNCH SITE WHEN WIND DIRECTIONS ARE GOING TOWARD CLASS B, C, OR D AIRSPACE. 2) ENDING THE FLT BEFORE THERE IS ANY QUESTION OF REACHING CLASS B, C, OR D AIRSPACE. 3) USING AN ACFT RADIO AND REQUESTING PERMISSION TO ENTER CLASS B, C, OR D AIRSPACE.

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.

A hot air balloon pilot, flying a tbw FF7 balloon, may have entered the fnt class C airspace without clearance.