To summarize, if there is an obstacle between the balloon and  the landing site, the following are the three safe choices. balloon turns away from the obviously preferred landing site,  but there is another possible site only one-half mile in the  proper direction. The pilot has two choices: (1) go back up  to a legal altitude and try again, or (2) stay low in the wind  that the balloon pilot is sure will carry the balloon to a good  site and try to make the second landing site. In making the first choice, the pilot could be accused of  intentionally flying too low. However, with the second  choice, he or she flies lower for a longer period of time,  which might appear to be a blatant violation of the minimum  altitude regulation. This is not an argument in favor of either  technique. Many pilots prefer the second choice on the “once  the pilot goes down to land, he or she had better land” theory.  [Figure 8-7] The first choice is the most difficult, requiring landing from  a high approach and then a fast descent at low altitude.  The second choice is the most conservative, but may not  be available if the pilot is approaching the last landing site.  The third choice is preferable. Flying toward the site at  low altitude provides an opportunity to check the surface  winds. By clearing the obstacle while ascending—always  the safest option—the pilot ends up with a short, but not too  high, approach. When a landing site is being considered, a balloon pilot  should first think about the suitability of the site. “Is it safe,  is it legal, and is it polite?”  Plan the landing early enough so that fuel quantity is not a  distraction. Always plan on landing with enough fuel so that  even if the first approach to a landing site is unsuccessful,  there is enough fuel to make a couple more approaches. The best landing site is one that is bigger than the balloon  needs and has alternatives. If the balloon has three prospective  sites in front of it, the pilot should aim for the one in the  middle in case the surface wind estimate was off. If the  balloon has multiple prospective landing sites in a row along  its path, the pilot should take the first one and save the others  for a miscalculation. Unless there is a 180° turn available,  all the landing sites behind are lost. Before beginning the  approach, the pilot should plan to fly a reasonable descent  path to the landing site using the step-down approach, the  low (shallow) approach, or a combination of the two.  Approaching from a relatively high altitude with a high  descent rate down to a soft landing is a very good maneuver  to practice periodically, regardless of the experience level  of the pilot. This is used when landing over an obstacle  and maneuvering to the selected field is possible only from  a higher than desired altitude. This maneuver can also be  used when, due to inattention or distractions, the pilot is at  a relatively high altitude approaching the last appropriate  landing site. Practicing this type of approach should take  Making an approach in a congested area, and subsequently  discovering the site to be impossible or inappropriate, is  another example of a situation in which a pilot could be  falsely accused of low flying. There are some inconsiderate  pilots who fly too low in congested areas without reason,  but they are rare. Every pilot has an occassional aborted  landing situation. According to Title 14 of the Code of Federal  Regulations (14 CFR) part 91, section 91.119, a balloon  may fly closer to the ground than the minimum altitude, if  necessary for landing. For example, during the approach the  Congested Areas Practice Approaches Some Basic Rules of Landing 1. Give the obstacle appropriate clearance and drop in  from altitude. 2. Reject the landing and look for another landing site. 3. Fly a low approach to the obstacle, fly over the  obstacle allowing plenty of room, and then make the  landing. $_{Figure 8-7.}$  A good landing is something to watch. 8-7