Narrative:

As PIC, was at level flight at 8100 ft MSL, approximately bearing 270 dregs at 5 mph per handheld GPS, 40 mins into flight, fuel at approximately 60%. Made decision to maintain level flight to cross the river (rio grande). Approximately 20 mins later, visibility was slightly obscured by clouds. These clouds appeared to 'drop' or 'descend' as level flight continued. A slow descent was initiated to determine cloud level and direction of lower winds. At 7500 ft MSL bearing was approximately 180 degrees at 1 mph, at 7300 ft MSL bearing was approximately 90 degrees at 1 mph. My slow descent revealed an undesirable direction/speed for available fuel load and landing site selections. Observed other balloons below light and variable. Flight continued at approximately 7600 ft MSL for favorable wind direction/speed, bearing 260 degrees at 4.5 mph, under VFR conditions. Other balloons clearly observed at same altitude. Ground crew radioed with confirmed visual sighting when below or ahead at same altitude. Ground crew radioed with confirmed visual sighting when below or ahead on surface roads. Flight concluded with landing on ZZZ blvd, northwest, approximately fuel 10% remaining, total flight time 1 hour 50 mins. I was approached by 2 individuals who identified themselves as personnel from the FAA. They advised me to contact them at the pilot tent. Upon contact with the FAA, I was advised of a possible violation of 14 crash fire rescue equipment, part 91.155. I feel I was observed as ceiling dropped and clouds developed between the aircraft and the FAA personnel's vantage point, which I believe was 4-5 mi away. As conditions changed, I believe I made appropriate decisions to maintain VFR and achieve a safe landing. All future flts will include consideration of ever changing VFR conditions and allowance of these changes.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BALLOON PLT DSNDED AS HIS ACFT APCHED A DECREASING CLOUD CEILING POSSIBLY ENTERING THE CLOUD BASES.

Narrative: AS PIC, WAS AT LEVEL FLT AT 8100 FT MSL, APPROX BEARING 270 DREGS AT 5 MPH PER HANDHELD GPS, 40 MINS INTO FLT, FUEL AT APPROX 60%. MADE DECISION TO MAINTAIN LEVEL FLT TO CROSS THE RIVER (RIO GRANDE). APPROX 20 MINS LATER, VISIBILITY WAS SLIGHTLY OBSCURED BY CLOUDS. THESE CLOUDS APPEARED TO 'DROP' OR 'DSND' AS LEVEL FLT CONTINUED. A SLOW DSCNT WAS INITIATED TO DETERMINE CLOUD LEVEL AND DIRECTION OF LOWER WINDS. AT 7500 FT MSL BEARING WAS APPROX 180 DEGS AT 1 MPH, AT 7300 FT MSL BEARING WAS APPROX 90 DEGS AT 1 MPH. MY SLOW DSCNT REVEALED AN UNDESIRABLE DIRECTION/SPD FOR AVAILABLE FUEL LOAD AND LNDG SITE SELECTIONS. OBSERVED OTHER BALLOONS BELOW LIGHT AND VARIABLE. FLT CONTINUED AT APPROX 7600 FT MSL FOR FAVORABLE WIND DIRECTION/SPD, BEARING 260 DEGS AT 4.5 MPH, UNDER VFR CONDITIONS. OTHER BALLOONS CLRLY OBSERVED AT SAME ALT. GND CREW RADIOED WITH CONFIRMED VISUAL SIGHTING WHEN BELOW OR AHEAD AT SAME ALT. GND CREW RADIOED WITH CONFIRMED VISUAL SIGHTING WHEN BELOW OR AHEAD ON SURFACE ROADS. FLT CONCLUDED WITH LNDG ON ZZZ BLVD, NW, APPROX FUEL 10% REMAINING, TOTAL FLT TIME 1 HR 50 MINS. I WAS APCHED BY 2 INDIVIDUALS WHO IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES AS PERSONNEL FROM THE FAA. THEY ADVISED ME TO CONTACT THEM AT THE PLT TENT. UPON CONTACT WITH THE FAA, I WAS ADVISED OF A POSSIBLE VIOLATION OF 14 CFR, PART 91.155. I FEEL I WAS OBSERVED AS CEILING DROPPED AND CLOUDS DEVELOPED BTWN THE ACFT AND THE FAA PERSONNEL'S VANTAGE POINT, WHICH I BELIEVE WAS 4-5 MI AWAY. AS CONDITIONS CHANGED, I BELIEVE I MADE APPROPRIATE DECISIONS TO MAINTAIN VFR AND ACHIEVE A SAFE LNDG. ALL FUTURE FLTS WILL INCLUDE CONSIDERATION OF EVER CHANGING VFR CONDITIONS AND ALLOWANCE OF THESE CHANGES.

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.