Balloon pilot took off from a congested area into an arsa without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	218399
Time
Date	199208
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cvg
State Reference	OH
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	climbout : initial climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 6800 flight time type : 360
ASRS Report	218399
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We took off from a property adjacent to the ATP tennis stadium in mason, oh. There were no problems and I do not believe we broke any FARS, but feel that due to the fact that the tennis tournament stopped play, it may appear to some that we were in error and in violation of something. We were not! I am filing this NASA report in the slight chance of inquiry by the FAA. We did not fly over the 'open air assembly of people,' and were in a continuous climb after takeoffs, and did not violate any min altitude regulations. I do, however, believe that the regulations for altitude for balloons are not appropriate and should be revised to reflect the operational requirements of ballons. As they stand now, the regulations are the same for airplanes and balloons. This is not the real world. Balloons need access to altitudes below 1000 ft AGL in order to be able to use the lower altitude winds for steerage. This option of flying lower in balloons will increase safety!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BALLOON PLT TOOK OFF FROM A CONGESTED AREA INTO AN ARSA WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: WE TOOK OFF FROM A PROPERTY ADJACENT TO THE ATP TENNIS STADIUM IN MASON, OH. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS AND I DO NOT BELIEVE WE BROKE ANY FARS, BUT FEEL THAT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE TENNIS TOURNAMENT STOPPED PLAY, IT MAY APPEAR TO SOME THAT WE WERE IN ERROR AND IN VIOLATION OF SOMETHING. WE WERE NOT! I AM FILING THIS NASA RPT IN THE SLIGHT CHANCE OF INQUIRY BY THE FAA. WE DID NOT FLY OVER THE 'OPEN AIR ASSEMBLY OF PEOPLE,' AND WERE IN A CONTINUOUS CLB AFTER TKOFS, AND DID NOT VIOLATE ANY MIN ALT REGS. I DO, HOWEVER, BELIEVE THAT THE REGS FOR ALT FOR BALLOONS ARE NOT APPROPRIATE AND SHOULD BE REVISED TO REFLECT THE OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF BALLONS. AS THEY STAND NOW, THE REGS ARE THE SAME FOR AIRPLANES AND BALLOONS. THIS IS NOT THE REAL WORLD. BALLOONS NEED ACCESS TO ALTS BELOW 1000 FT AGL IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO USE THE LOWER ALT WINDS FOR STEERAGE. THIS OPTION OF FLYING LOWER IN BALLOONS WILL INCREASE SAFETY!

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.