3 AEROSTAR BALLOON PLTS LAUNCH IN MARGINAL WX AND ARE REQUIRED TO WAIT FOR THE FOG TO LIFT (BURN OFF) PRIOR TO ATTEMPTING A LNDG IN THE VICINITY OF OKS9.

Narrative

IN THE MORNING; I MET WITH OTHER BALLOON PLTS FOR A MORNING FLT. WE HAD CHKED THE WX FORECAST AND IT LOOKED GOOD FOR A BALLOON FLT. WE LAUNCHED A HELIUM BALLOON TO CHK ACTUAL WIND CONDITIONS. THE HELIUM BALLOON DRIFTED UP TO THE NE SHOWING VERY LIGHT WIND CONDITIONS WITH A SLIGHT R TURN AROUND 300 FT. WE DECIDED TO LAUNCH. DURING THE BALLOON SET UP; VISIBILITY WAS APPROX 1 MI. I TOOK OFF AND CLBED SLOWLY OUT AT 50-100 FPM. AS I WAS CLBING OUT; I NOTICED SURFACE FOG IN NEARBY LOW LYING AREAS. CLBING HIGHER; AND LOOKING FARTHER OUT; I COULD SEE INTERMITTENT THICKER PATCHES OF FOG. I EXPECTED THE FOG WOULD DISSIPATE AS TIME WENT ON. BUT IT BECAME THICKER; BEFORE IT STARTED TO DISSIPATE. I CONTINUED TO FLY UNTIL THE VISIBILITY IMPROVED; AND LANDED SAFELY. THE PROB HAPPENED BECAUSE I DECIDED TO LAUNCH WHEN THE POTENTIAL FOR FOG WAS GOOD. I EXPECTED IT TO DISSIPATE QUICKLY AS IT DID THE PREVIOUS MORNING. IN ORDER TO PREVENT A RECURRING SIT; I WILL CLOSELY MONITOR THE TEMP; DEW POINT SPREAD; AS WELL AS THE MOST RECENT FORECAST. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 596364: THE PROB AROSE WHEN I CHOSE TO LAUNCH IN MARGINAL WX CONDITIONS; RATHER THAN WAIT TO SEE IF THE FOG WOULD COMPLETELY DISSIPATE. THE WX WAS ALMOST IDENTICAL THE PREVIOUS DAY AND THE FOG DISAPPEARED AT SUNRISE. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 596365: THE VISIBILITY WAS TOO POOR TO ATTEMPT TO LAND; NOT KNOWING THE WIND SPD ON THE GND; THE SIZE OF THE FIELD AND THE POSSIBILITY OF OBSTACLES. I WENT BACK ABOVE THE FOG AND IT SEEMED TO BE CLRING. CONVERSATION WITH MY CREW (ATTEMPTING TO DETERMINE EITHER MY LOCATION OR MY CREW'S LOCATION); THE FOG WAS CONTINUING TO DISSIPATE. I SAW A CLRING IN A WATERWAY (GRASS STRIP) OF A WHEAT FIELD. THE PROB AROSE WHEN I CHOSE TO LAUNCH SO CLOSE TO SUNRISE IN MARGINAL WX CONDITIONS; RATHER THAN WAITING TO SEE IF THE FOG WOULD 'LIFT' OR 'SETTLE IN.'