Pilot of aerostar S60A hot air balloon makes his landing 10 mins after sunset.

Attributes
ACN	385450
Time
Date	199711
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : stl
State Reference	MO
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : rfd
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Balloon
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	landing other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 14 flight time total : 14 flight time type : 14
ASRS Report	385450
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Due to delays during inflation, the aircraft was launched approximately 1 hour and 10 mins before sunset. The flight was planned over a congested area. On 4 approachs to land the wind shifted abruptly with inconsistent direction causing the approachs to be aborted. A landing was made approximately 10 mins after sunset without incident. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter states the aerostar S60A is a hot air balloon. The regulations do not allow for an after sunset landing of hot air balloons. He had 2 passenger on board and they landed in a church parking lot. Reporter states 'the lord opened up his arms.' no FAA follow- up has occurred.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF AEROSTAR S60A HOT AIR BALLOON MAKES HIS LNDG 10 MINS AFTER SUNSET.

Narrative: DUE TO DELAYS DURING INFLATION, THE ACFT WAS LAUNCHED APPROX 1 HR AND 10 MINS BEFORE SUNSET. THE FLT WAS PLANNED OVER A CONGESTED AREA. ON 4 APCHS TO LAND THE WIND SHIFTED ABRUPTLY WITH INCONSISTENT DIRECTION CAUSING THE APCHS TO BE ABORTED. A LNDG WAS MADE APPROX 10 MINS AFTER SUNSET WITHOUT INCIDENT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES THE AEROSTAR S60A IS A HOT AIR BALLOON. THE REGS DO NOT ALLOW FOR AN AFTER SUNSET LNDG OF HOT AIR BALLOONS. HE HAD 2 PAX ON BOARD AND THEY LANDED IN A CHURCH PARKING LOT. RPTR STATES 'THE LORD OPENED UP HIS ARMS.' NO FAA FOLLOW- UP HAS OCCURRED.

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.