A hot air balloon ride pilot had to fly low to find a suitable landing site.

Attributes
ACN	355356
Time
Date	199612
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : nkx
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 100 agl bound upper : 100
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 ground : preflight 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 : 1500
ASRS Report	355356
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

After analyzing the winds, I chose the appropriate launch site for that flight. 3 other balloons chose the same site. I was the first balloon to take off. About 10 mins into the flight, the winds changed from the direction that would have taken me to open fields, to an area of trees, people, and horses with limited landing sites. I chose to land in the next available open field I could find. In doing so, I had to fly as low as 100 ft AGL. I found a safe landing site and landed in calm air. I did not at any time feel this to be a dangerous situation. It may have concerned some on the ground. I have never before encountered this in 1500 flts over 8 yrs. Perhaps winds aloft forecasts at 1000 ft, 2000 ft, 3000 ft, 6000 ft, and 9000 ft might help balloons.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE PLT HAD TO FLY LOW TO FIND A SUITABLE LNDG SITE.

Narrative: AFTER ANALYZING THE WINDS, I CHOSE THE APPROPRIATE LAUNCH SITE FOR THAT FLT. 3 OTHER BALLOONS CHOSE THE SAME SITE. I WAS THE FIRST BALLOON TO TAKE OFF. ABOUT 10 MINS INTO THE FLT, THE WINDS CHANGED FROM THE DIRECTION THAT WOULD HAVE TAKEN ME TO OPEN FIELDS, TO AN AREA OF TREES, PEOPLE, AND HORSES WITH LIMITED LNDG SITES. I CHOSE TO LAND IN THE NEXT AVAILABLE OPEN FIELD I COULD FIND. IN DOING SO, I HAD TO FLY AS LOW AS 100 FT AGL. I FOUND A SAFE LNDG SITE AND LANDED IN CALM AIR. I DID NOT AT ANY TIME FEEL THIS TO BE A DANGEROUS SIT. IT MAY HAVE CONCERNED SOME ON THE GND. I HAVE NEVER BEFORE ENCOUNTERED THIS IN 1500 FLTS OVER 8 YRS. PERHAPS WINDS ALOFT FORECASTS AT 1000 FT, 2000 FT, 3000 FT, 6000 FT, AND 9000 FT MIGHT HELP BALLOONS.

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.