Pilot of a small aircraft sel flew low over lake and was cited by a government ranger. This prompted...

Attributes
ACN	282100
Time
Date	199409
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : o17
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 300 agl bound upper : 800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 67 flight time total : 1400
ASRS Report	282100
Person 2
Affiliation	government other
Function	observation : observer
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : investigated Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On sep/xx/94 I was on my way home from a hunting trip and was expecting friends up from sacramento in a week or so who were bringing their boat. I decided to take a look at lake englebright from the air on the way by as I had never been on the lake. I flew low over the lake and turned and flew back. I believe I was always at least 500 ft away from any person, vessel, vehicle or structure. According to FAA regulations part 91.79 paragraph C, you can fly over open water, in other than congested areas, at any altitude so long as you remain at least 500 ft away from any person, vessel, vehicle or structure. I did not know anyone on the lake, I was not buzzing anyone on the lake. I just made 2 passes over the lake to look at it. I saw only 1 boat on the lake and I was to the side of that boat by at least 500 ft. I received a ticket from the park manager at englebright lake, united states government district, (address) that says a mandatory appearance is necessary at the united states district court, sacramento. No date has been set. I also received a request from the FAA for my pilot and medical certification, pilot logbooks and maintenance records, including air worthiness and registration certificate.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF A SMA SEL FLEW LOW OVER LAKE AND WAS CITED BY A GOV RANGER. THIS PROMPTED GREETINGS FROM THE FAA OF AN INVESTIGATION OF THE INCIDENT.

Narrative: ON SEP/XX/94 I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM A HUNTING TRIP AND WAS EXPECTING FRIENDS UP FROM SACRAMENTO IN A WK OR SO WHO WERE BRINGING THEIR BOAT. I DECIDED TO TAKE A LOOK AT LAKE ENGLEBRIGHT FROM THE AIR ON THE WAY BY AS I HAD NEVER BEEN ON THE LAKE. I FLEW LOW OVER THE LAKE AND TURNED AND FLEW BACK. I BELIEVE I WAS ALWAYS AT LEAST 500 FT AWAY FROM ANY PERSON, VESSEL, VEHICLE OR STRUCTURE. ACCORDING TO FAA REGS PART 91.79 PARAGRAPH C, YOU CAN FLY OVER OPEN WATER, IN OTHER THAN CONGESTED AREAS, AT ANY ALT SO LONG AS YOU REMAIN AT LEAST 500 FT AWAY FROM ANY PERSON, VESSEL, VEHICLE OR STRUCTURE. I DID NOT KNOW ANYONE ON THE LAKE, I WAS NOT BUZZING ANYONE ON THE LAKE. I JUST MADE 2 PASSES OVER THE LAKE TO LOOK AT IT. I SAW ONLY 1 BOAT ON THE LAKE AND I WAS TO THE SIDE OF THAT BOAT BY AT LEAST 500 FT. I RECEIVED A TICKET FROM THE PARK MGR AT ENGLEBRIGHT LAKE, UNITED STATES GOV DISTRICT, (ADDRESS) THAT SAYS A MANDATORY APPEARANCE IS NECESSARY AT THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT, SACRAMENTO. NO DATE HAS BEEN SET. I ALSO RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM THE FAA FOR MY PLT AND MEDICAL CERTIFICATION, PLT LOGBOOKS AND MAINT RECORDS, INCLUDING AIR WORTHINESS AND REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE.

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 a small aircraft sel flew low over lake and was cited by a government ranger. This prompted greetings from the FAA of an investigation of the incident.