Private pilot made low passes over a downtown parade without authorization.

Attributes
ACN	214711
Time
Date	199207
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : btm
State Reference	MT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6100 msl bound upper : 6100
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : rdu
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 27 flight time total : 300 flight time type : 164
ASRS Report	214711
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Backgnd: had been invited to make low pass over parade, behind aerobatic aircraft from ca on previous yr (1991). This yr (1992) during trip to butte, mt, a local pilot and friend along as passenger, and I decided to make a pass again, and announced our intentions on local FSS frequency (122.6). We visually cleared the area and made 1 pass south to north, then announced again and made another north to south over the parade route. Both at as close to 6100 ft MSL as possible (by my altimeter). 2 fgts from an air force base had previously made a low pass and were out of the area. After our 1/2 hour flight and upon landing at the airport, I was accosted by a local policeman, who demanded my identify. He was extremely angry and said he had never seen an airplane fly so low. He then ranted about how 3 people were killed in an automatic accident in dillon, mt just a week ago. I didn't see the connection, and I got the impression that he does not like airplanes. I tried to explain that I was very safety conscious, but he said he was going to file a report, and I hadn't heard the end of it. I called the local FSS and talked to FAA personnel. Asked if he had received any citizen complaints (this was 2 hours after the incident at PM15). He said no. I don't think I should have made the flight, especially considering the reaction of this man, and I will never do it again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PRIVATE PLT MADE LOW PASSES OVER A DOWNTOWN PARADE WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION.

Narrative: BACKGND: HAD BEEN INVITED TO MAKE LOW PASS OVER PARADE, BEHIND AEROBATIC ACFT FROM CA ON PREVIOUS YR (1991). THIS YR (1992) DURING TRIP TO BUTTE, MT, A LCL PLT AND FRIEND ALONG AS PAX, AND I DECIDED TO MAKE A PASS AGAIN, AND ANNOUNCED OUR INTENTIONS ON LCL FSS FREQ (122.6). WE VISUALLY CLRED THE AREA AND MADE 1 PASS S TO N, THEN ANNOUNCED AGAIN AND MADE ANOTHER N TO S OVER THE PARADE RTE. BOTH AT AS CLOSE TO 6100 FT MSL AS POSSIBLE (BY MY ALTIMETER). 2 FGTS FROM AN AIR FORCE BASE HAD PREVIOUSLY MADE A LOW PASS AND WERE OUT OF THE AREA. AFTER OUR 1/2 HR FLT AND UPON LNDG AT THE ARPT, I WAS ACCOSTED BY A LCL POLICEMAN, WHO DEMANDED MY IDENT. HE WAS EXTREMELY ANGRY AND SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN AN AIRPLANE FLY SO LOW. HE THEN RANTED ABOUT HOW 3 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT IN DILLON, MT JUST A WK AGO. I DIDN'T SEE THE CONNECTION, AND I GOT THE IMPRESSION THAT HE DOES NOT LIKE AIRPLANES. I TRIED TO EXPLAIN THAT I WAS VERY SAFETY CONSCIOUS, BUT HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO FILE A RPT, AND I HADN'T HEARD THE END OF IT. I CALLED THE LCL FSS AND TALKED TO FAA PERSONNEL. ASKED IF HE HAD RECEIVED ANY CITIZEN COMPLAINTS (THIS WAS 2 HRS AFTER THE INCIDENT AT PM15). HE SAID NO. I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE MADE THE FLT, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE REACTION OF THIS MAN, AND I WILL NEVER DO IT AGAIN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.