Low altitude civil operation is in violation of FARS. Proximity to terrain obstruction building.

Attributes
ACN	246150
Time
Date	199307
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : spi
State Reference	IL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 300 agl bound upper : 500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : spi artcc : zav
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other other other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 1700 flight time type : 1300
ASRS Report	246150
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was the pilot chosen to take a photographer over a school to aerial photograph a new roof which had recently been installed. I instantly became aware of the haze after takeoff and thought the conditions were not conducive for such an aerial request. The photographer, also realizing the haze would cause problems, asked if we could descend to a lower altitude. Although it was against my better judgement, I allowed the pressure of providing the best conditions for photographs to allow myself to maneuver at an altitude that violated far minimum altitude rules. I realize now that those pressures to perform at the level of satisfaction to please the passenger does not outweigh the consequences that follow an far violation and the possibility of a license suspension. In almost 1800 hours of violation free flying it opens your eyes! It won't happen again!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOW ALT CIVIL OP IS IN VIOLATION OF FARS. PROX TO TERRAIN OBSTRUCTION BUILDING.

Narrative: I WAS THE PLT CHOSEN TO TAKE A PHOTOGRAPHER OVER A SCHOOL TO AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH A NEW ROOF WHICH HAD RECENTLY BEEN INSTALLED. I INSTANTLY BECAME AWARE OF THE HAZE AFTER TKOF AND THOUGHT THE CONDITIONS WERE NOT CONDUCIVE FOR SUCH AN AERIAL REQUEST. THE PHOTOGRAPHER, ALSO REALIZING THE HAZE WOULD CAUSE PROBS, ASKED IF WE COULD DSND TO A LOWER ALT. ALTHOUGH IT WAS AGAINST MY BETTER JUDGEMENT, I ALLOWED THE PRESSURE OF PROVIDING THE BEST CONDITIONS FOR PHOTOGRAPHS TO ALLOW MYSELF TO MANEUVER AT AN ALT THAT VIOLATED FAR MINIMUM ALT RULES. I REALIZE NOW THAT THOSE PRESSURES TO PERFORM AT THE LEVEL OF SATISFACTION TO PLEASE THE PAX DOES NOT OUTWEIGH THE CONSEQUENCES THAT FOLLOW AN FAR VIOLATION AND THE POSSIBILITY OF A LICENSE SUSPENSION. IN ALMOST 1800 HRS OF VIOLATION FREE FLYING IT OPENS YOUR EYES! IT WON'T HAPPEN 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.