A hot air balloon flew low in marginal VMC.

Attributes
ACN	272832
Time
Date	199406
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : avl
State Reference	NC
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Balloon
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff cruise other landing other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 1150 flight time type : 77
ASRS Report	272832
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Takeoff VFR, but fog was developing. Was able to maintain my 3 mi visibility but had to stay low and immediately search for a place to land. Landed in farmer's field without causing any problems to aircraft or passenger. I should have waited longer to see if fog was going to develop. I relied on my passenger's assessment of the fog as they drove up to meet us. Also, I need to find a better launch site that will give a better view of the area.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A HOT AIR BALLOON FLEW LOW IN MARGINAL VMC.

Narrative: TKOF VFR, BUT FOG WAS DEVELOPING. WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN MY 3 MI VISIBILITY BUT HAD TO STAY LOW AND IMMEDIATELY SEARCH FOR A PLACE TO LAND. LANDED IN FARMER'S FIELD WITHOUT CAUSING ANY PROBS TO ACFT OR PAX. I SHOULD HAVE WAITED LONGER TO SEE IF FOG WAS GOING TO DEVELOP. I RELIED ON MY PAX'S ASSESSMENT OF THE FOG AS THEY DROVE UP TO MEET US. ALSO, I NEED TO FIND A BETTER LAUNCH SITE THAT WILL GIVE A BETTER VIEW OF THE AREA.

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.