An small aircraft pilot fell into the top of a temporary restricted area over a forest fire.

Attributes
ACN	245811
Time
Date	199307
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : als
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9700 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 16000 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	245811
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Short time notice for photo flight over forest fire. Only aircraft available, an small aircraft 1, with 160 hp. Hot day 90 plus degrees. 3 people near gross weight. Slow climb to altitude using thermals. NOTAM on fire area required 2000 ft AGL within 5 NM. Initial altitude sufficient, in maneuvering for better photos, encountered downdraft which required turn out to lower terrain. May have penetrated 2000 ft restriction. Climbed back to above 11000 ft MSL, well above 2000 ft, and took final photo. No interference with fire fighting aircraft. Aircraft not adequate for job attempted. Pressure of business influenced decision to take small aircraft 1. Possibility of some fatigue for the pilot. Trip should have been delayed to another time, preferably earlier in day for temperatures and turbulence. Hindsight would require the use of a higher performing aircraft. At least an small aircraft 2 or small aircraft 3. Having only 2 persons on board would have been of some help also.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA PLT FELL INTO THE TOP OF A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA OVER A FOREST FIRE.

Narrative: SHORT TIME NOTICE FOR PHOTO FLT OVER FOREST FIRE. ONLY ACFT AVAILABLE, AN SMA 1, WITH 160 HP. HOT DAY 90 PLUS DEGS. 3 PEOPLE NEAR GROSS WT. SLOW CLB TO ALT USING THERMALS. NOTAM ON FIRE AREA REQUIRED 2000 FT AGL WITHIN 5 NM. INITIAL ALT SUFFICIENT, IN MANEUVERING FOR BETTER PHOTOS, ENCOUNTERED DOWNDRAFT WHICH REQUIRED TURN OUT TO LOWER TERRAIN. MAY HAVE PENETRATED 2000 FT RESTRICTION. CLBED BACK TO ABOVE 11000 FT MSL, WELL ABOVE 2000 FT, AND TOOK FINAL PHOTO. NO INTERFERENCE WITH FIRE FIGHTING ACFT. ACFT NOT ADEQUATE FOR JOB ATTEMPTED. PRESSURE OF BUSINESS INFLUENCED DECISION TO TAKE SMA 1. POSSIBILITY OF SOME FATIGUE FOR THE PLT. TRIP SHOULD HAVE BEEN DELAYED TO ANOTHER TIME, PREFERABLY EARLIER IN DAY FOR TEMPS AND TURB. HINDSIGHT WOULD REQUIRE THE USE OF A HIGHER PERFORMING ACFT. AT LEAST AN SMA 2 OR SMA 3. HAVING ONLY 2 PERSONS ON BOARD WOULD HAVE BEEN OF SOME HELP ALSO.

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.