A hot air balloon pilot had to fly at 500 ft AGL over houses to find an appropriate place to land.

Attributes
ACN	340739
Time
Date	199607
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 4g0
State Reference	PA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Balloon
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	other other : other pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 1000 flight time type : 850
ASRS Report	340739
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I flew at or above 1000 ft throughout the flight over monroeville. I began descent to land. The first area was missed and I climbed back to 500+ ft AGL. A second approach was made and missed. The third and final approach was made into a level green field. A stand-up landing was made. At times I was low over residential areas. These were all as part of a reasonable flight technique.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A HOT AIR BALLOON PLT HAD TO FLY AT 500 FT AGL OVER HOUSES TO FIND AN APPROPRIATE PLACE TO LAND.

Narrative: I FLEW AT OR ABOVE 1000 FT THROUGHOUT THE FLT OVER MONROEVILLE. I BEGAN DSCNT TO LAND. THE FIRST AREA WAS MISSED AND I CLBED BACK TO 500+ FT AGL. A SECOND APCH WAS MADE AND MISSED. THE THIRD AND FINAL APCH WAS MADE INTO A LEVEL GREEN FIELD. A STAND-UP LNDG WAS MADE. AT TIMES I WAS LOW OVER RESIDENTIAL AREAS. THESE WERE ALL AS PART OF A REASONABLE FLT TECHNIQUE.

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.