Inadvertent low altitude civil operation in proximity to ground was in violation of FARS.

Attributes
ACN	261139
Time
Date	199401
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : geg
State Reference	WA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : geg artcc : zhu
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Cessna 150
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 1000
ASRS Report	261139
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground less severe inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While flying in a rented aircraft (C-150) south of spokane washington (felts field) on a pleasure flight, I encountered lowered ceilings of cloud cover causing me to be less than the minimum altitude of 500 ft above congested areas. This caused me to look for an alternate route to remain clear of clouds and above 500 ft over the congested area. Ultimately I ended up reversing my direction and returning to the airfield.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INADVERTENT LOW ALT CIVIL OP IN PROX TO GND WAS IN VIOLATION OF FARS.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING IN A RENTED ACFT (C-150) SOUTH OF SPOKANE WASHINGTON (FELTS FIELD) ON A PLEASURE FLT, I ENCOUNTERED LOWERED CEILINGS OF CLOUD COVER CAUSING ME TO BE LESS THAN THE MINIMUM ALT OF 500 FT ABOVE CONGESTED AREAS. THIS CAUSED ME TO LOOK FOR AN ALTERNATE RTE TO REMAIN CLR OF CLOUDS AND ABOVE 500 FT OVER THE CONGESTED AREA. ULTIMATELY I ENDED UP REVERSING MY DIRECTION AND RETURNING TO THE AIRFIELD.

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.