Free balloon in close proximity to aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	313311
Time
Date	199508
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dqn
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 23000 msl bound upper : 23000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Learjet 35
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 9950 flight time type : 6900
ASRS Report	313311
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 50 vertical : 50
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Cruising wbound from cmh to cps at FL230, waiting for clearance to climb to cruising altitude. Saw balloon go by left side and slightly below us. Balloon was yellowish orange in color with what appeared to be a cable and a small payload attached to it. ATC provided no warning, and acknowledged our report with a 'roger' and a frequency change. I would guess that given our cruise true airspeed of over 450 KTS, that a collision with such a balloon could definitely inflict some damage to say the least. It is my understanding that ATC is supposed to be aware of these things (far 101.37) and provide advisories as appropriate (ATC 9-8-1). In my 17 yrs and nearly 10000 hours of flying, I don't think I've ever heard a report of these balloons. In fact, I nearly hit another one at FL450 over northern florida in 1987. Perhaps this could explain some of the accidents where a perfectly normal flight disappears off the radar scope and goes straight in for no apparent reason. I don't know, and these things scare me because at high speeds and even if you're really looking hard, you won't see it until it's too late to do much about it.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FREE BALLOON IN CLOSE PROX TO ACFT.

Narrative: CRUISING WBOUND FROM CMH TO CPS AT FL230, WAITING FOR CLRNC TO CLB TO CRUISING ALT. SAW BALLOON GO BY L SIDE AND SLIGHTLY BELOW US. BALLOON WAS YELLOWISH ORANGE IN COLOR WITH WHAT APPEARED TO BE A CABLE AND A SMALL PAYLOAD ATTACHED TO IT. ATC PROVIDED NO WARNING, AND ACKNOWLEDGED OUR RPT WITH A 'ROGER' AND A FREQ CHANGE. I WOULD GUESS THAT GIVEN OUR CRUISE TRUE AIRSPD OF OVER 450 KTS, THAT A COLLISION WITH SUCH A BALLOON COULD DEFINITELY INFLICT SOME DAMAGE TO SAY THE LEAST. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT ATC IS SUPPOSED TO BE AWARE OF THESE THINGS (FAR 101.37) AND PROVIDE ADVISORIES AS APPROPRIATE (ATC 9-8-1). IN MY 17 YRS AND NEARLY 10000 HRS OF FLYING, I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER HEARD A RPT OF THESE BALLOONS. IN FACT, I NEARLY HIT ANOTHER ONE AT FL450 OVER NORTHERN FLORIDA IN 1987. PERHAPS THIS COULD EXPLAIN SOME OF THE ACCIDENTS WHERE A PERFECTLY NORMAL FLT DISAPPEARS OFF THE RADAR SCOPE AND GOES STRAIGHT IN FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I DON'T KNOW, AND THESE THINGS SCARE ME BECAUSE AT HIGH SPDS AND EVEN IF YOU'RE REALLY LOOKING HARD, YOU WON'T SEE IT UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE TO DO MUCH ABOUT IT.

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.