A hot air balloon pilot had to land in a residential area because of thermal activity.

Attributes
ACN	340064
Time
Date	199606
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : orh
State Reference	MA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 100
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Balloon
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 5 flight time total : 500 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	340064
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : observer
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other other : unspecified other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While flying with other balloons, we noticed that thermal condition was going to occur soon. I made several approachs to some landing opportunities with no avail. I made a low approach over a major highway and saw that a golf course and a condominium complex was ahead. I could see people playing golf. I called down to someone at the condo unit to ask for permission to land. They said it was ok. So we landed at the condo complex next to the golf course. The landing was uneventful, a safe stand-up landing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A HOT AIR BALLOON PLT HAD TO LAND IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA BECAUSE OF THERMAL ACTIVITY.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING WITH OTHER BALLOONS, WE NOTICED THAT THERMAL CONDITION WAS GOING TO OCCUR SOON. I MADE SEVERAL APCHS TO SOME LNDG OPPORTUNITIES WITH NO AVAIL. I MADE A LOW APCH OVER A MAJOR HWY AND SAW THAT A GOLF COURSE AND A CONDOMINIUM COMPLEX WAS AHEAD. I COULD SEE PEOPLE PLAYING GOLF. I CALLED DOWN TO SOMEONE AT THE CONDO UNIT TO ASK FOR PERMISSION TO LAND. THEY SAID IT WAS OK. SO WE LANDED AT THE CONDO COMPLEX NEXT TO THE GOLF COURSE. THE LNDG WAS UNEVENTFUL, A SAFE STAND-UP LNDG.

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.