Accused of flying low in the traffic pattern by an airport spectator.

Attributes
ACN	242365
Time
Date	199305
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : vla
State Reference	IL
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff landing other other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 42 flight time total : 1642 flight time type : 242
ASRS Report	242365
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : observer
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I was flying in the vicinity of vla, making several approachs, pattern work, landing practice. Very strong swesterly flow with turbulence and wind shear. After landing, a spectator (presumably on the airport property), came up to me to complain about my having flown 'low over my head.' he threatened to report me to 'the officials' and said he took pictures of me. I tried to explain to him the nature of my flight operations, but he didn't listen. Several factors which might have influenced his perception are: the large size of this plane, which makes it appear lower than it is, the loud noise it emanates and the higher speeds it operates at, as compared to the usual traffic at this airport. Also, the strong wind component may have drifted me further over on the downwind than is customary, all contributing to the perception he had. At no time did I knowingly violate any FARS. Quite to the contrary it is my sincere wish to operate entirely within the constraints of all applicable regulations, as well as to adhere to my own, more stringent personal limitations.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACCUSED OF FLYING LOW IN THE TFC PATTERN BY AN ARPT SPECTATOR.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING IN THE VICINITY OF VLA, MAKING SEVERAL APCHS, PATTERN WORK, LNDG PRACTICE. VERY STRONG SWESTERLY FLOW WITH TURB AND WIND SHEAR. AFTER LNDG, A SPECTATOR (PRESUMABLY ON THE ARPT PROPERTY), CAME UP TO ME TO COMPLAIN ABOUT MY HAVING FLOWN 'LOW OVER MY HEAD.' HE THREATENED TO RPT ME TO 'THE OFFICIALS' AND SAID HE TOOK PICTURES OF ME. I TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO HIM THE NATURE OF MY FLT OPS, BUT HE DIDN'T LISTEN. SEVERAL FACTORS WHICH MIGHT HAVE INFLUENCED HIS PERCEPTION ARE: THE LARGE SIZE OF THIS PLANE, WHICH MAKES IT APPEAR LOWER THAN IT IS, THE LOUD NOISE IT EMANATES AND THE HIGHER SPDS IT OPERATES AT, AS COMPARED TO THE USUAL TFC AT THIS ARPT. ALSO, THE STRONG WIND COMPONENT MAY HAVE DRIFTED ME FURTHER OVER ON THE DOWNWIND THAN IS CUSTOMARY, ALL CONTRIBUTING TO THE PERCEPTION HE HAD. AT NO TIME DID I KNOWINGLY VIOLATE ANY FARS. QUITE TO THE CONTRARY IT IS MY SINCERE WISH TO OPERATE ENTIRELY WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS OF ALL APPLICABLE REGS, AS WELL AS TO ADHERE TO MY OWN, MORE STRINGENT PERSONAL LIMITATIONS.

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.