Narrative:

While climbing VFR westerly from gcn (grand canyon VOR) on V-210, my passenger asked if we could fly over the grand canyon on way to oakland, ca. Although familiar with the area, I knew there were restrictions new to me as noted on commercial (lo) 10 chart. I found enroute us-65. Since I was already airborne, I made a quick review of this unfamiliar sheet which shows various 'minimum flight altitudes' over grand canyon national park. The minimum flight altitudes shown along the gcn 250 degree radial, our desired course, are 10,000', then 9000' and then 8000'. (See enroute us-65 attached.) so when I reached 10,500', I proceeded over the grand canyon toward nellis AFB, nv. North of peach springs, I called los angeles center for traffic advisories and/or a handoff to las vegas approach control. I was informed that I was at an incorrect altitude. Upon reviewing page us-65, I concluded that I had erroneously assumed the minimum flight altitude applied except in the 'bright angel flight free zone'. The lesson learned from this experience is do not proceed into any area without a thorough review of the appropriate charts. We had arrived earlier avoiding the special flight rules area. Departing gcn, we could and should have gone to 14,500'. This flight level would have provided my passenger with the requested view and avoided intrusion into the special flight rules area.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CHARTER SMT UNAUTH PENETRATION OF OSUA AT GCN.

Narrative: WHILE CLIMBING VFR WESTERLY FROM GCN (GRAND CANYON VOR) ON V-210, MY PAX ASKED IF WE COULD FLY OVER THE GRAND CANYON ON WAY TO OAKLAND, CA. ALTHOUGH FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA, I KNEW THERE WERE RESTRICTIONS NEW TO ME AS NOTED ON COMMERCIAL (LO) 10 CHART. I FOUND ENROUTE US-65. SINCE I WAS ALREADY AIRBORNE, I MADE A QUICK REVIEW OF THIS UNFAMILIAR SHEET WHICH SHOWS VARIOUS 'MINIMUM FLT ALTS' OVER GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK. THE MINIMUM FLT ALTS SHOWN ALONG THE GCN 250 DEG RADIAL, OUR DESIRED COURSE, ARE 10,000', THEN 9000' AND THEN 8000'. (SEE ENROUTE US-65 ATTACHED.) SO WHEN I REACHED 10,500', I PROCEEDED OVER THE GRAND CANYON TOWARD NELLIS AFB, NV. NORTH OF PEACH SPRINGS, I CALLED LOS ANGELES CENTER FOR TFC ADVISORIES AND/OR A HANDOFF TO LAS VEGAS APCH CTL. I WAS INFORMED THAT I WAS AT AN INCORRECT ALT. UPON REVIEWING PAGE US-65, I CONCLUDED THAT I HAD ERRONEOUSLY ASSUMED THE MINIMUM FLT ALT APPLIED EXCEPT IN THE 'BRIGHT ANGEL FLT FREE ZONE'. THE LESSON LEARNED FROM THIS EXPERIENCE IS DO NOT PROCEED INTO ANY AREA WITHOUT A THOROUGH REVIEW OF THE APPROPRIATE CHARTS. WE HAD ARRIVED EARLIER AVOIDING THE SPECIAL FLT RULES AREA. DEPARTING GCN, WE COULD AND SHOULD HAVE GONE TO 14,500'. THIS FLT LEVEL WOULD HAVE PROVIDED MY PAX WITH THE REQUESTED VIEW AND AVOIDED INTRUSION INTO THE SPECIAL FLT RULES AREA.

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.