Narrative:

Launched balloon heading approximately wsw at 8 KTS. Special event was in effect and I followed the special event balloon for approximately 45 mins across the first section of the lake. The special event balloon landed, I threw at the target and flew on seeking first available landing site. No sites available and overwater once again, with 40% fuel remaining, I flagged down a 70 ft cabin cruiser to tow me 1/2 mi to shore. I landed on the deck, secured the basket and we proceeded for the marina. Once near the shoreline, I released the balloon from the deck and flew to the shoreline. I landed at a lakeside house without injury or damage to my aircraft. No emergency services were required or contacted. I believe that I used poor judgement concerning direction of wind and speed for this flight. I could have possibly landed safely prior to seeking the target throw, but failed to do so accordingly. This was my second flight in this area, but a new direction to me. I did feel that competition and restrs to landing within 1500 ft of a target area contributed to my situation. I do feel that I made all the correct decisions once I discovered that I was potentially in trouble near official sunset that evening. I feel I stayed in control of the situation and kept calm through the ordeal. I regret that it probably could have been avoided.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HOT AIR BALLOON PLT LANDED ON BOAT DECK AFTER BEING OVER LAKE AND RUNNING LOW ON FUEL. BOAT WENT TO SHORE AND PLT FLEW BALLOON OFF LNDG NEARBY ON SHORE.

Narrative: LAUNCHED BALLOON HEADING APPROX WSW AT 8 KTS. SPECIAL EVENT WAS IN EFFECT AND I FOLLOWED THE SPECIAL EVENT BALLOON FOR APPROX 45 MINS ACROSS THE FIRST SECTION OF THE LAKE. THE SPECIAL EVENT BALLOON LANDED, I THREW AT THE TARGET AND FLEW ON SEEKING FIRST AVAILABLE LNDG SITE. NO SITES AVAILABLE AND OVERWATER ONCE AGAIN, WITH 40% FUEL REMAINING, I FLAGGED DOWN A 70 FT CABIN CRUISER TO TOW ME 1/2 MI TO SHORE. I LANDED ON THE DECK, SECURED THE BASKET AND WE PROCEEDED FOR THE MARINA. ONCE NEAR THE SHORELINE, I RELEASED THE BALLOON FROM THE DECK AND FLEW TO THE SHORELINE. I LANDED AT A LAKESIDE HOUSE WITHOUT INJURY OR DAMAGE TO MY ACFT. NO EMER SVCS WERE REQUIRED OR CONTACTED. I BELIEVE THAT I USED POOR JUDGEMENT CONCERNING DIRECTION OF WIND AND SPD FOR THIS FLT. I COULD HAVE POSSIBLY LANDED SAFELY PRIOR TO SEEKING THE TARGET THROW, BUT FAILED TO DO SO ACCORDINGLY. THIS WAS MY SECOND FLT IN THIS AREA, BUT A NEW DIRECTION TO ME. I DID FEEL THAT COMPETITION AND RESTRS TO LNDG WITHIN 1500 FT OF A TARGET AREA CONTRIBUTED TO MY SIT. I DO FEEL THAT I MADE ALL THE CORRECT DECISIONS ONCE I DISCOVERED THAT I WAS POTENTIALLY IN TROUBLE NEAR OFFICIAL SUNSET THAT EVENING. I FEEL I STAYED IN CTL OF THE SIT AND KEPT CALM THROUGH THE ORDEAL. I REGRET THAT IT PROBABLY COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.

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.