HOT AIR BALLOON PLT WAS THREATENED BY A LANDOWNER.

Narrative

I WAS DOING A BIENNIAL FLT REVIEW IN A RURAL AREA AND WAS AT AN ALT IN EXCESS OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF FAR 91.119(C). THERE WERE NUMEROUS TREES IN THE AREA; AND I CLRED A LINE OF TREES AND THERE WERE CATTLE IN A FIELD. A MAN (IDENT UNKNOWN) ON THE GND BEGAN TO SCREAM OBSCENITIES AND THREATENED TO SHOOT ME OUT OF THE SKY. I FLEW APPROX 2-3 MI FARTHER AND LANDED. MY CHASE CREW WAS APCHED (ON A PUBLIC ROADWAY) BY A MAN (IDENT UNKNOWN) WHO STATED TO MY CHASE DRIVER THAT; 'I AM TIRED OF HIM SCATTERING MY CATTLE.' HE WAS THEN ADVISED THAT THE PLT WOULD BE HAPPY TO DISCUSS THE MATTER WITH HIM. HOWEVER; HE REFUSED TO TALK TO THE PLT AND SAID HIS ATTORNEY WOULD BE TALKING TO HIM. THIS WAS MY FIRST FLT IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA (EVEN THOUGH I AM AWARE THAT OTHER BALLOONISTS HAVE FLOWN THIS AREA ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS) AND I WILL; IN THE FUTURE; MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO COMPLETELY AVOID THIS AREA. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATES THAT HE HAS NOT HEARD FROM THE CATTLEMAN; HIS ATTORNEY; OR THE FAA SINCE THIS INCIDENT. HE ALSO STATES THAT HE SPENT QUITE SOME TIME AT 1000 FT AGL OR GREATER DURING THIS FLT.