Pilot of an small aircraft sel photo flight operated below the minimum safe altitude over a congeste...

Attributes
ACN	299542
Time
Date	199503
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pdx
State Reference	OR
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1300 msl bound upper : 1300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pdx
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 350 flight time type : 5
ASRS Report	299542
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was given a clearance to fly to and over the downtown area at 1000 ft. The portland inset map on the seattle sectional can be difficult to read regarding the towers height. I should of studied the chart more closely before starting the flight. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated that no one has complained or investigated his low photo flight over a densely populated area. He did recognize that he was below 1000 ft over the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 2000 ft of the aircraft. Therefore, he submitted this report in case of an investigation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF AN SMA SEL PHOTO FLT OPERATED BELOW THE MINIMUM SAFE ALT OVER A CONGESTED AREA.

Narrative: I WAS GIVEN A CLRNC TO FLY TO AND OVER THE DOWNTOWN AREA AT 1000 FT. THE PORTLAND INSET MAP ON THE SEATTLE SECTIONAL CAN BE DIFFICULT TO READ REGARDING THE TWRS HEIGHT. I SHOULD OF STUDIED THE CHART MORE CLOSELY BEFORE STARTING THE FLT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT NO ONE HAS COMPLAINED OR INVESTIGATED HIS LOW PHOTO FLT OVER A DENSELY POPULATED AREA. HE DID RECOGNIZE THAT HE WAS BELOW 1000 FT OVER THE HIGHEST OBSTACLE WITHIN A HORIZ RADIUS OF 2000 FT OF THE ACFT. THEREFORE, HE SUBMITTED THIS RPT IN CASE OF AN INVESTIGATION.

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 photo flight operated below the minimum safe altitude over a congested area.