A mooney pilot encounters 3 possible WX balloons.

Attributes
ACN	588613
Time
Date	200307
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : cwk.vortac
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl single value : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zhu.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	M-20 B/C Ranger
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 700 flight time type : 120
ASRS Report	588613
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

I was flying a route between cll, cwk and stv vors. I believe after passing the cwk VOR near austin, I came within 15 ft of a WX balloon. This balloon had 3 blue latex balloons tied together. The balloons appeared to be about 4 inches in diameter. I was on an IFR flight plan and received no notification from ATC. I did not report the event to ATC and I probably should have. The next day I called san angelo FSS and tried to discuss it with them and they did not seem concerned. I notified via phone the NWS office in san angelo. They did not seem to think it would have originated from the NWS. They thought it could be from texas a&M or someone conducting private research. I am writing this because I believe it was a near miss and should be recorded. It could have caused a serious accident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A MOONEY PLT ENCOUNTERS 3 POSSIBLE WX BALLOONS.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING A RTE BTWN CLL, CWK AND STV VORS. I BELIEVE AFTER PASSING THE CWK VOR NEAR AUSTIN, I CAME WITHIN 15 FT OF A WX BALLOON. THIS BALLOON HAD 3 BLUE LATEX BALLOONS TIED TOGETHER. THE BALLOONS APPEARED TO BE ABOUT 4 INCHES IN DIAMETER. I WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN AND RECEIVED NO NOTIFICATION FROM ATC. I DID NOT REPORT THE EVENT TO ATC AND I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE. THE NEXT DAY I CALLED SAN ANGELO FSS AND TRIED TO DISCUSS IT WITH THEM AND THEY DID NOT SEEM CONCERNED. I NOTIFIED VIA PHONE THE NWS OFFICE IN SAN ANGELO. THEY DID NOT SEEM TO THINK IT WOULD HAVE ORIGINATED FROM THE NWS. THEY THOUGHT IT COULD BE FROM TEXAS A&M OR SOMEONE CONDUCTING PVT RESEARCH. I AM WRITING THIS BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT WAS A NEAR MISS AND SHOULD BE RECORDED. IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

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.