Narrative:

During balloon race task, flight was delayed by local FAA due to IFR conditions at lafayette airport. Note: very good visibility and high ceilings at balloon launch field. Flew long task (time wise). Wind not forecasted to become light and variable on surface, but did. Changing wind direction due to light and variable and no wind at times forced me to find an appropriate landing site in congested area by residential area. Made a controled drop line assisted landing with no damage to aircraft or property on the surface or injuries to anyone. Low fuel was not a primary concern, however, choice of landing spot was appropriate to insure fuel would not become a concern with no wind.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A HOT AIR BALLOON PLT LANDED HIS AEROSTAT IN A CONGESTED RESIDENTIAL AREA.

Narrative: DURING BALLOON RACE TASK, FLT WAS DELAYED BY LCL FAA DUE TO IFR CONDITIONS AT LAFAYETTE ARPT. NOTE: VERY GOOD VISIBILITY AND HIGH CEILINGS AT BALLOON LAUNCH FIELD. FLEW LONG TASK (TIME WISE). WIND NOT FORECASTED TO BECOME LIGHT AND VARIABLE ON SURFACE, BUT DID. CHANGING WIND DIRECTION DUE TO LIGHT AND VARIABLE AND NO WIND AT TIMES FORCED ME TO FIND AN APPROPRIATE LNDG SITE IN CONGESTED AREA BY RESIDENTIAL AREA. MADE A CTLED DROP LINE ASSISTED LNDG WITH NO DAMAGE TO ACFT OR PROPERTY ON THE SURFACE OR INJURIES TO ANYONE. LOW FUEL WAS NOT A PRIMARY CONCERN, HOWEVER, CHOICE OF LNDG SPOT WAS APPROPRIATE TO INSURE FUEL WOULD NOT BECOME A CONCERN WITH NO WIND.

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.