Hot air balloon pilot reports collision with another balloon rising from below during a regatta.

Attributes
ACN	756636
Time
Date	200710
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mgw.airport
State Reference	WV
Altitude	agl single value : 500
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Balloon
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Balloon
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 28 flight time total : 270 flight time type : 270
ASRS Report	756636
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed as precaution flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I was flying level at about 500 ft when a balloon appeared behind me very close. I turned the burners on to climb. The balloon was moving up toward me and contacted my basket. As I climbed it tore the fabric. I landed in the same field to assure all were ok. It was a congested flying area with light and variable winds.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HOT AIR BALLOON PILOT REPORTS COLLISION WITH ANOTHER BALLOON RISING FROM BELOW DURING A REGATTA.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING LEVEL AT ABOUT 500 FT WHEN A BALLOON APPEARED BEHIND ME VERY CLOSE. I TURNED THE BURNERS ON TO CLB. THE BALLOON WAS MOVING UP TOWARD ME AND CONTACTED MY BASKET. AS I CLBED IT TORE THE FABRIC. I LANDED IN THE SAME FIELD TO ASSURE ALL WERE OK. IT WAS A CONGESTED FLYING AREA WITH LIGHT AND VARIABLE WINDS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.