Dissociation of NO-Ar ((A) over tilde) with 50 cm(-1) excess energy produces NO rotational states that are not allowed energetically. Translational energy distributions for these products reveal that states up to the (X) over tilde state dissociation energy (88 cm (1)) are being excited to the A state and contribute to the observed dissociation. Translational energy distributions for the 'energetically allowed' rotational states also show a contribution from these thermally populated states. Dissociation from A levels accessed from thermally populated (X) over tilde states accounts for 40% of the products observed. The translational energy distributions reveal the shape of the NO-Ar (A) over tilde state population distribution produced, which is a product of the (X) over tilde state thermal distribution and Franck-Condon factors. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.