A HOT AIR BALLOON LANDED IN A TIGHT CONSTRUCTION AREA.
Synopsis
A HOT AIR BALLOON LANDED IN A TIGHT CONSTRUCTION AREA.
Narrative
THE WINDS WERE RPTED CALM ON THE SURFACE AND 9900 AT 3000 FT. WITH THIS CONDITION; THERE IS A CHANCE THE WINDS WILL DIE OUT ABOUT 1 1/2-2 HRS AFTER SUNRISE. WE GOT A LATE START; LAUNCH TIME XA30 AM. I STARTED THE FLT AT ABOUT 500 FT HDG W TO GO OVER DISNEY AND PLANNED TO USE THE SOUTHERLY WINDS AT 1200 FT TO LAND IN THE FIELDS S OF THE DISNEY PROPERTY. AT ABOUT XB00; I CLBED TO 1200 FT AND STARTED MY APCH TO LAND. ABOUT 15 MIN AT ALT; THE SOUTHERLY WINDS JUST STOPPED. I TRIED TO CLB AND DSND TO FIND SOME WIND TO NO AVAIL. MY ASSESSMENT OF THE SIT WAS: 1) THE WINDS ON THE SURFACE ARE STILL MOVING TOWARD A CONSTRUCTION SITE IN DISNEY: 2) THE WINDS AT ALT MAY START TO BACK UP INTO THE AREA OF NOTHING BUT TREES OVER DISNEY PROPERTY: 3) I HAD ABOUT 45 MIN OF FUEL LEFT. I TOOK THE CONSTRUCTION SITE. ON MY APCH TO LAND; THERE WAS A CRANE WITH 180 FT OF BOOM. THE OPERATOR WAS OUT OF THE CRANE WATCHING ME AND THE CRANE WAS NOT RUNNING. IT WAS EITHER FLY ABOVE THE CRANE AND DROP DOWN FAST AND CHANCE A HARD LNDG OR BELOW THE BOOM HT FOR A SOFT LNDG. I CHOSE THE LATTER. I NEVER CAME WITHIN 75 FT OF THE CRANE AND HAD A SOFT LNDG IN THE CONSTRUCTION PARKING LOT. THE WIND SPD DURING MY APCH WAS LESS THAN 1 KT.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.