A hot air balloon flew into an overcast while trying to provide legal clearance over a congested are...

Attributes
ACN	243851
Time
Date	199306
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 1w5
State Reference	MD
Altitude	agl bound lower : 1000 agl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 5 flight time total : 110 flight time type : 5
ASRS Report	243851
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

In order to clear a town (congested area by definition) by the required 1000 ft AGL, I inadvertently flew into the bottom of the cloud deck, resulting in the loss of VFR minimums. I immediately vented and reduced altitude clearing the cloud at about the same time I cleared the congested area. Total time of violation was approximately 3 mins. During this flight I had flown several times before and after this occurrence to 1000 ft AGL and well below the 500 ft below clouds required by the FARS. This appears to have been the only lower than reported clouds I encountered during this flight. If the FAA would reconsider their decision to reduce the minimum clearance over congested areas to 500 ft for free balloons as endorsed by the balloon federation of america, this event would not have happened.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A HOT AIR BALLOON FLEW INTO AN OVCST WHILE TRYING TO PROVIDE LEGAL CLRNC OVER A CONGESTED AREA.

Narrative: IN ORDER TO CLR A TOWN (CONGESTED AREA BY DEFINITION) BY THE REQUIRED 1000 FT AGL, I INADVERTENTLY FLEW INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE CLOUD DECK, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF VFR MINIMUMS. I IMMEDIATELY VENTED AND REDUCED ALT CLRING THE CLOUD AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME I CLRED THE CONGESTED AREA. TOTAL TIME OF VIOLATION WAS APPROX 3 MINS. DURING THIS FLT I HAD FLOWN SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE AND AFTER THIS OCCURRENCE TO 1000 FT AGL AND WELL BELOW THE 500 FT BELOW CLOUDS REQUIRED BY THE FARS. THIS APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN THE ONLY LOWER THAN RPTED CLOUDS I ENCOUNTERED DURING THIS FLT. IF THE FAA WOULD RECONSIDER THEIR DECISION TO REDUCE THE MINIMUM CLRNC OVER CONGESTED AREAS TO 500 FT FOR FREE BALLOONS AS ENDORSED BY THE BALLOON FEDERATION OF AMERICA, THIS EVENT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.

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.

A hot air balloon flew into an overcast while trying to provide legal clearance over a congested area.