VFR in IMC. - NASA ASRS

Attributes
ACN	308821
Time
Date	199506
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : btl
State Reference	MI
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Balloon
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other landing other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 19 flight time total : 828
ASRS Report	308821
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

After getting a WX briefing at XA50 from lansing and looking at the local conditions, I decided that a VFR flight was possible. However, soon after takeoff the fog greatly increased and I immediately looked for a landing spot. I took the first that came and landed 2 1/2 KM from my launch point. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter flies a thunder and colt ax- 7 balloon. She was participating in the world championship competition at battle creek. She has heard nothing from the FAA on this matter.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VFR IN IMC.

Narrative: AFTER GETTING A WX BRIEFING AT XA50 FROM LANSING AND LOOKING AT THE LCL CONDITIONS, I DECIDED THAT A VFR FLT WAS POSSIBLE. HOWEVER, SOON AFTER TKOF THE FOG GREATLY INCREASED AND I IMMEDIATELY LOOKED FOR A LNDG SPOT. I TOOK THE FIRST THAT CAME AND LANDED 2 1/2 KM FROM MY LAUNCH POINT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR FLIES A THUNDER AND COLT AX- 7 BALLOON. SHE WAS PARTICIPATING IN THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP COMPETITION AT BATTLE CREEK. SHE HAS HEARD NOTHING FROM THE FAA ON THIS MATTER.

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.