Private pilot of an small aircraft sel operated below the minimum safe altitude over a large city.

Attributes
ACN	276874
Time
Date	199407
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : cgx airport : gyy
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1800 msl bound upper : 1800
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord tower : mia
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 2000 flight time type : 25
ASRS Report	276874
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Cruising just north of meigs field 'on top,' instrument air pump failed, killing autoplt. While 'putting it all back together' may have strayed too low over downtown chicago. Ceiling was solid below me. Turned east over lake and returned to gary.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PVT PLT OF AN SMA SEL OPERATED BELOW THE MINIMUM SAFE ALT OVER A LARGE CITY.

Narrative: CRUISING JUST N OF MEIGS FIELD 'ON TOP,' INST AIR PUMP FAILED, KILLING AUTOPLT. WHILE 'PUTTING IT ALL BACK TOGETHER' MAY HAVE STRAYED TOO LOW OVER DOWNTOWN CHICAGO. CEILING WAS SOLID BELOW ME. TURNED E OVER LAKE AND RETURNED TO GARY.

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.