Potential conflict.

Attributes
ACN	232582
Time
Date	199301
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : olv
State Reference	MS
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	232582
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger observation : observer
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 750
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

My daughter and I were on a local pleasure flight. After we departed we saw 3 balloons about 15 mi away. I decided to fly about 1/2 mi from these balloons so we could get a better look. I kept these 3 balloons in sight the whole time and we flew about 1/2 mi away horizontally at 2000 ft. After we flew past the balloons my daughter said that there were 4 balloons and we went over the top of the fourth one. I was surprised to hear this as I had only seen 3. I turned around to look and saw a 4TH balloon about 1000 ft below us. The only way I was able to see him was by his propane flame. The balloon was very dark and blended in with the backgnd. Balloonist ought to be aware that with a color that blends in with the backgnd and the fact that there is very little movement they are almost impossible to see when below the horizon.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: POTENTIAL CONFLICT.

Narrative: MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE ON A LCL PLEASURE FLT. AFTER WE DEPARTED WE SAW 3 BALLOONS ABOUT 15 MI AWAY. I DECIDED TO FLY ABOUT 1/2 MI FROM THESE BALLOONS SO WE COULD GET A BETTER LOOK. I KEPT THESE 3 BALLOONS IN SIGHT THE WHOLE TIME AND WE FLEW ABOUT 1/2 MI AWAY HORIZLY AT 2000 FT. AFTER WE FLEW PAST THE BALLOONS MY DAUGHTER SAID THAT THERE WERE 4 BALLOONS AND WE WENT OVER THE TOP OF THE FOURTH ONE. I WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR THIS AS I HAD ONLY SEEN 3. I TURNED AROUND TO LOOK AND SAW A 4TH BALLOON ABOUT 1000 FT BELOW US. THE ONLY WAY I WAS ABLE TO SEE HIM WAS BY HIS PROPANE FLAME. THE BALLOON WAS VERY DARK AND BLENDED IN WITH THE BACKGND. BALLOONIST OUGHT TO BE AWARE THAT WITH A COLOR THAT BLENDS IN WITH THE BACKGND AND THE FACT THAT THERE IS VERY LITTLE MOVEMENT THEY ARE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHEN BELOW THE HORIZON.

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.