Pilot of cpr small transport sees WX balloon up close during descent through 17000 ft.

Attributes
ACN	209713
Time
Date	199204
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hto
State Reference	RI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 17000 msl bound upper : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zbw
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	209713
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac inflight encounter other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 10 vertical : 10
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

While descending through layers of clouds with layer below and above with cumulus clouds around, passing 17000 ft MSL, I passed what looked like a WX balloon. It appeared to be 5 to 6 ft vertical and silver gray in color with a small package on bottom. No notice by ATC was given me. Too late to make evasive action. Just luck that we missed it.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF CPR SMT SEES WX BALLOON UP CLOSE DURING DSCNT THROUGH 17000 FT.

Narrative: WHILE DSNDING THROUGH LAYERS OF CLOUDS WITH LAYER BELOW AND ABOVE WITH CUMULUS CLOUDS AROUND, PASSING 17000 FT MSL, I PASSED WHAT LOOKED LIKE A WX BALLOON. IT APPEARED TO BE 5 TO 6 FT VERT AND SILVER GRAY IN COLOR WITH A SMALL PACKAGE ON BOTTOM. NO NOTICE BY ATC WAS GIVEN ME. TOO LATE TO MAKE EVASIVE ACTION. JUST LUCK THAT WE MISSED IT.

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.