A LCL POLICEMAN TOOK EXCEPTION TO A HOT AIR BALLOON LNDG IN A CITY PARK.
Synopsis
A LCL POLICEMAN TOOK EXCEPTION TO A HOT AIR BALLOON LNDG IN A CITY PARK.
Narrative
ON AUG/XX/94 AT XA15 AM; I CHOSE A CITY PARK AS A SAFE LNDG SITE IN THE CITY OF VACAVILLE. THE WINDS WERE GOING SW AT 200 FT TO 3200 FT AND NE BELOW 200 FT. FOR 45 MINS OF THE FLT; I CRUISED BTWN 1500 FT AND 3200 FT. JUST BELOW MY BALLOON WERE HUMMER PWRLINES. FINDING NO SUITABLE WIND TO TAKE US AWAY FROM THE LINES; I WENT IN SEARCH FOR THE SAFEST LNDG AREA. I CHOSE A CITY PARK WHICH LAID ABOUT 600 FT FROM THE LINES. WE LANDED SAFELY WATCHING FOR PEOPLE SAFETY (ABOARD AND ON GND). WITH THE 30 MINS REMAINING OF FUEL AND DETERIORATING WX CONDITIONS; I BELIEVE THE LNDG SIGHT WAS SAFE AND CTLED. FURTHER TO THE S WERE RESIDENTIAL HOUSE; OUTLINED BY PWRLINES AND HWY 80 AND TRAVIS AFB. A POLICE OFFICER CAME TO THE SCENE AND TOOK A RPT AFTER WE HAD LANDED. NOT SEEING THE LNDG AND BEING SUBJECTIVE; HE FELT THAT IT WAS DANGEROUS. MANY ONLOOKERS ENJOYED SEEING THE BALLOON AND ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT FLYING WHILE WE PACKED UP. ALL PAX FELT SAFE AT ALL TIMES AND WERE WELL BRIEFED BEFORE AND DURING LNDG.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.