Hot air balloon encounters updraft, enters cloud.

Attributes
ACN	132650
Time
Date	198912
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dmo
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3600
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Experimental
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	other other : other pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 350 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	132650
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While flying level 500' below cloud base (overcast sky) I encountered a strong thermal which accelerated me from 200 FPM descent to 1400 FPM climb with no burn. Shortly after beginning climb, entered clouds. I valved to check climb, then allowed envelope to cool to a controled descent. I was in IMC for about 2 mins resumed flying VFR.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HOT AIR BALLOON ENCOUNTERS UPDRAFT, ENTERS CLOUD.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING LEVEL 500' BELOW CLOUD BASE (OVERCAST SKY) I ENCOUNTERED A STRONG THERMAL WHICH ACCELERATED ME FROM 200 FPM DESCENT TO 1400 FPM CLIMB WITH NO BURN. SHORTLY AFTER BEGINNING CLIMB, ENTERED CLOUDS. I VALVED TO CHECK CLIMB, THEN ALLOWED ENVELOPE TO COOL TO A CTLED DSCNT. I WAS IN IMC FOR ABOUT 2 MINS RESUMED FLYING VFR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.