A balloon moves into class B airspace at phl, PA. Pilot varies altitude to obtain wind that will dri...

Attributes
ACN	377670
Time
Date	199708
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : phl
State Reference	PA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 100 agl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phl
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Balloon
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 65 flight time total : 1600 flight time type : 65
ASRS Report	377670
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I took off at XA45 am and flew a banner along the I-76 expressway to where the river and expressway turn south toward the city. When I crossed the river the wind over north philadelphia also turned right towards center city, and the TCA (class B). I tried flying at 100 ft AGL to over 1000 ft AGL. None of the winds were blowing towards new jersey any more. (Nj is where our test balloons went.) I flew at 400-500 ft AGL (congested area) where the wind would steer me to building X. I knew there would be landing space there. The wind was very gentle and I landed on an empty parking access road behind the building. Pilot balloons sent up prior to flight showed I could overfly north philadelphia to new jersey. The lower winds changed by the time I reached north philadelphia. The winds aloft were always headed for downtown and the TCA. I should have realized that the lower winds might turn that way, during the flight. All I could do was use the new lower winds to get to a safe landing spot.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BALLOON MOVES INTO CLASS B AIRSPACE AT PHL, PA. PLT VARIES ALT TO OBTAIN WIND THAT WILL DRIFT HIM IN DESIRED DIRECTION.

Narrative: I TOOK OFF AT XA45 AM AND FLEW A BANNER ALONG THE I-76 EXPRESSWAY TO WHERE THE RIVER AND EXPRESSWAY TURN S TOWARD THE CITY. WHEN I CROSSED THE RIVER THE WIND OVER NORTH PHILADELPHIA ALSO TURNED R TOWARDS CENTER CITY, AND THE TCA (CLASS B). I TRIED FLYING AT 100 FT AGL TO OVER 1000 FT AGL. NONE OF THE WINDS WERE BLOWING TOWARDS NEW JERSEY ANY MORE. (NJ IS WHERE OUR TEST BALLOONS WENT.) I FLEW AT 400-500 FT AGL (CONGESTED AREA) WHERE THE WIND WOULD STEER ME TO BUILDING X. I KNEW THERE WOULD BE LNDG SPACE THERE. THE WIND WAS VERY GENTLE AND I LANDED ON AN EMPTY PARKING ACCESS ROAD BEHIND THE BUILDING. PLT BALLOONS SENT UP PRIOR TO FLT SHOWED I COULD OVERFLY NORTH PHILADELPHIA TO NEW JERSEY. THE LOWER WINDS CHANGED BY THE TIME I REACHED NORTH PHILADELPHIA. THE WINDS ALOFT WERE ALWAYS HEADED FOR DOWNTOWN AND THE TCA. I SHOULD HAVE REALIZED THAT THE LOWER WINDS MIGHT TURN THAT WAY, DURING THE FLT. ALL I COULD DO WAS USE THE NEW LOWER WINDS TO GET TO A SAFE LNDG SPOT.

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.

A balloon moves into class B airspace at phl, PA. Pilot varies altitude to obtain wind that will drift him in desired direction.