2 'ride' balloons had fog form under them after liftoff.

Attributes
ACN	303751
Time
Date	199505
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : apa
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 2000 agl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Balloon
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Balloon
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 1495
ASRS Report	303751
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 42 flight time total : 4500
ASRS Report	303752
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

About 1/2 hour after liftoff at a winery in yountville, a layer of fog moved in, creating a broken ceiling at 750 ft AGL. I ascended to 3000 ft AGL to facilitate the necessary wind direction. While aloft, the fog formed underneath me. It was clear to the west and south. I flew west to the next valley and the clearing. By this time, the fog was breaking up. I landed clear of the fog. Supplemental information from acn 303752: 30 mins after liftoff from yountville, a layer of fog moved in creating a broken ceiling at approximately 900 ft AGL. I ascended to 2000 ft AGL to check out the wind direction. While aloft, the fog formed underneath the balloon. I flew south where the clouds were broken and landed clear of clouds. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter flies a 'ride' balloon for one of the major tourist businesses in napa. Usually the pilots are able to predict fog formation, but not this day. The flight ended safely. The reporter has heard nothing from the FAA on this.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: 2 'RIDE' BALLOONS HAD FOG FORM UNDER THEM AFTER LIFTOFF.

Narrative: ABOUT 1/2 HR AFTER LIFTOFF AT A WINERY IN YOUNTVILLE, A LAYER OF FOG MOVED IN, CREATING A BROKEN CEILING AT 750 FT AGL. I ASCENDED TO 3000 FT AGL TO FACILITATE THE NECESSARY WIND DIRECTION. WHILE ALOFT, THE FOG FORMED UNDERNEATH ME. IT WAS CLR TO THE W AND S. I FLEW W TO THE NEXT VALLEY AND THE CLRING. BY THIS TIME, THE FOG WAS BREAKING UP. I LANDED CLR OF THE FOG. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 303752: 30 MINS AFTER LIFTOFF FROM YOUNTVILLE, A LAYER OF FOG MOVED IN CREATING A BROKEN CEILING AT APPROX 900 FT AGL. I ASCENDED TO 2000 FT AGL TO CHK OUT THE WIND DIRECTION. WHILE ALOFT, THE FOG FORMED UNDERNEATH THE BALLOON. I FLEW S WHERE THE CLOUDS WERE BROKEN AND LANDED CLR OF CLOUDS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR FLIES A 'RIDE' BALLOON FOR ONE OF THE MAJOR TOURIST BUSINESSES IN NAPA. USUALLY THE PLTS ARE ABLE TO PREDICT FOG FORMATION, BUT NOT THIS DAY. THE FLT ENDED SAFELY. THE RPTR HAS HEARD NOTHING FROM THE FAA ON THIS.

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.