Pilot of an small aircraft sel aircraft operated the aircraft below the minimum required altitude du...

Attributes
ACN	250967
Time
Date	199309
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 0o5
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 300 agl bound upper : 300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 370 flight time type : 20
ASRS Report	250967
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : observer
Qualification	other other : other
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:

I took a friend (with a camera) up in an small aircraft sel and we flew 500 ft AGL to the company we work at which is south of davis, ca. We made 3 passes over the company building at 300 ft AGL for photos. Everyone at the company knew ahead of time that we were going to fly over and were actually on the roof waving. The company owns the land (which is open field 0.2 mi in length) over which we flew below 500 ft. There is also a 1/4 mi open field next to the building to the west to give a total of 0.5 mi of open field (and no other building or people). We did not fly over any other buildings or people (other than the company) at a flight altitude of 500 ft AGL. However, when I landed at university airport, an instructor said someone called and noticed a plane flying at about 300-500 ft AGL. To my knowledge, no complaint has been filed. I know I used poor judgement flying at this level. I am certain this event will never happen again. I will never fly low again -- unless landing at airports. I feel awful that this could give university airport a bad name. I have no other violations. I have been flying 16-17 yrs with no incidents/citations -- not even a traffic ticket! I am gravely sorry.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF AN SMA SEL ACFT OPERATED THE ACFT BELOW THE MINIMUM REQUIRED ALT DURING PHOTOGRAPHING HIS COMPANY'S FACILITY.

Narrative: I TOOK A FRIEND (WITH A CAMERA) UP IN AN SMA SEL AND WE FLEW 500 FT AGL TO THE COMPANY WE WORK AT WHICH IS S OF DAVIS, CA. WE MADE 3 PASSES OVER THE COMPANY BUILDING AT 300 FT AGL FOR PHOTOS. EVERYONE AT THE COMPANY KNEW AHEAD OF TIME THAT WE WERE GOING TO FLY OVER AND WERE ACTUALLY ON THE ROOF WAVING. THE COMPANY OWNS THE LAND (WHICH IS OPEN FIELD 0.2 MI IN LENGTH) OVER WHICH WE FLEW BELOW 500 FT. THERE IS ALSO A 1/4 MI OPEN FIELD NEXT TO THE BUILDING TO THE W TO GIVE A TOTAL OF 0.5 MI OF OPEN FIELD (AND NO OTHER BUILDING OR PEOPLE). WE DID NOT FLY OVER ANY OTHER BUILDINGS OR PEOPLE (OTHER THAN THE COMPANY) AT A FLT ALT OF 500 FT AGL. HOWEVER, WHEN I LANDED AT UNIVERSITY ARPT, AN INSTRUCTOR SAID SOMEONE CALLED AND NOTICED A PLANE FLYING AT ABOUT 300-500 FT AGL. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, NO COMPLAINT HAS BEEN FILED. I KNOW I USED POOR JUDGEMENT FLYING AT THIS LEVEL. I AM CERTAIN THIS EVENT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. I WILL NEVER FLY LOW AGAIN -- UNLESS LNDG AT ARPTS. I FEEL AWFUL THAT THIS COULD GIVE UNIVERSITY ARPT A BAD NAME. I HAVE NO OTHER VIOLATIONS. I HAVE BEEN FLYING 16-17 YRS WITH NO INCIDENTS/CITATIONS -- NOT EVEN A TFC TICKET! I AM GRAVELY SORRY.

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.

Pilot of an small aircraft sel aircraft operated the aircraft below the minimum required altitude during photographing his company's facility.