Observer on ground reported old mode small transport low altitude flight.

Attributes
ACN	102540
Time
Date	198901
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lax airport : smo
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 1000 agl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	approach : circling
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	102540
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

In reality, there was nothing illegal or hazardous about this flight. But, after landing at santa monica, the controller advised me that someone had called reporting that I had flown 50' over the homes in the pacific palisades. I simply felt compelled to file this report (even though the report was totally erroneous). Witnesses on board my aircraft included security advisor, who was flying the aircraft from the right seat, and a man who is also a pilot who is a news anchorman and was seated in the cabin. I hope that this is not an abuse of the ASRS system. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: this aircraft, which is similar to an old trimotor, is slow and noisy and thus gives appearance of being much closer than it actually is. Reporter and other pilots know area and were taking care to remain 1000' above houses on hills in area. Figures person who reported didn't like noise, but did not get north number. Did have call from FSDO inspector who said to tell everyone flying this aircraft because of its characteristics he keep extra high, but there would be no FAA action as no north number was obtained.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: OBSERVER ON GND REPORTED OLD MODE SMT LOW ALT FLT.

Narrative: IN REALITY, THERE WAS NOTHING ILLEGAL OR HAZARDOUS ABOUT THIS FLT. BUT, AFTER LNDG AT SANTA MONICA, THE CTLR ADVISED ME THAT SOMEONE HAD CALLED RPTING THAT I HAD FLOWN 50' OVER THE HOMES IN THE PACIFIC PALISADES. I SIMPLY FELT COMPELLED TO FILE THIS RPT (EVEN THOUGH THE RPT WAS TOTALLY ERRONEOUS). WITNESSES ON BOARD MY ACFT INCLUDED SECURITY ADVISOR, WHO WAS FLYING THE ACFT FROM THE RIGHT SEAT, AND A MAN WHO IS ALSO A PLT WHO IS A NEWS ANCHORMAN AND WAS SEATED IN THE CABIN. I HOPE THAT THIS IS NOT AN ABUSE OF THE ASRS SYS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: THIS ACFT, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO AN OLD TRIMOTOR, IS SLOW AND NOISY AND THUS GIVES APPEARANCE OF BEING MUCH CLOSER THAN IT ACTUALLY IS. RPTR AND OTHER PLTS KNOW AREA AND WERE TAKING CARE TO REMAIN 1000' ABOVE HOUSES ON HILLS IN AREA. FIGURES PERSON WHO RPTED DIDN'T LIKE NOISE, BUT DID NOT GET N NUMBER. DID HAVE CALL FROM FSDO INSPECTOR WHO SAID TO TELL EVERYONE FLYING THIS ACFT BECAUSE OF ITS CHARACTERISTICS HE KEEP EXTRA HIGH, BUT THERE WOULD BE NO FAA ACTION AS NO N NUMBER WAS OBTAINED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.