Pilot of hot air balloon ascended into possible IMC. Made precautionary landing in office park.

Attributes
ACN	592197
Time
Date	200309
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mge.airport
State Reference	GA
Altitude	agl single value : 1200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : mge.tower tower : pia.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Balloon
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 33 flight time total : 1300 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	592197
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : landed as precaution
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather ATC Human Performance Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

Took off in VFR conditions 7+ mi of visibility, at least 1300 ft ceiling. Immediately after takeoff, I contacted dobbins tower and asked to transition through airspace. I was given the barometric pressure and was approved. I set my barometer and then checked altitude of 2225 ft MSL (approximately 1225 ft AGL), radioed my crew and asked if the balloon was in the clouds. They replied it was not. After a while, dobbins tower contacted me and advised that the airport was in IMC and asked my intentions. As I was still in VFR conditions but could see the ceiling lowering behind me, I elected to land as soon as possible. I descended and landed without incident in an office complex where my crew was able to find me and retrieve the aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF HOT AIR BALLOON ASCENDED INTO POSSIBLE IMC. MADE PRECAUTIONARY LNDG IN OFFICE PARK.

Narrative: TOOK OFF IN VFR CONDITIONS 7+ MI OF VISIBILITY, AT LEAST 1300 FT CEILING. IMMEDIATELY AFTER TKOF, I CONTACTED DOBBINS TWR AND ASKED TO TRANSITION THROUGH AIRSPACE. I WAS GIVEN THE BAROMETRIC PRESSURE AND WAS APPROVED. I SET MY BAROMETER AND THEN CHKED ALT OF 2225 FT MSL (APPROX 1225 FT AGL), RADIOED MY CREW AND ASKED IF THE BALLOON WAS IN THE CLOUDS. THEY REPLIED IT WAS NOT. AFTER A WHILE, DOBBINS TWR CONTACTED ME AND ADVISED THAT THE ARPT WAS IN IMC AND ASKED MY INTENTIONS. AS I WAS STILL IN VFR CONDITIONS BUT COULD SEE THE CEILING LOWERING BEHIND ME, I ELECTED TO LAND ASAP. I DSNDED AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT IN AN OFFICE COMPLEX WHERE MY CREW WAS ABLE TO FIND ME AND RETRIEVE THE ACFT.

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.