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An atx cargo pilot flies below 1000 ft above a populated area on a SVFR clearance to land at opf after the ILS was taken OTS.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 330779 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199603 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : opf |
| State Reference | FL |
| Altitude | agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Marginal |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : mia tower : opf tower : ord |
| Operator | common carrier : air taxi |
| Make Model Name | Cessna 210 Centurion / Turbo Centurion 210C, 210D |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 135 |
| Flight Phase | cruise other descent : approach descent other |
| Route In Use | approach : svfr |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air taxi |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 4700 flight time type : 2700 |
| ASRS Report | 330779 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
On my flight from tpa to opf ATC advised opf localizer inoperative. I deviated to mia, dumped my cargo, picked up an IFR to fxe. My plan was to get below the scattered layer at fxe and cancel IFR, pick up a special VFR and go to opf. (I had called the opf tower and he said the WX was favorable for special VFR.) after shooting the localizer approach it was evident the WX was very good, visibility was excellent and clouds were very scattered, but seemed to be around 800 ft. En route to opf I descended to an altitude of 650 ft to remain clear of the scattered layer. The only regulation I busted was the 1000 ft obstacle clearance over a populated area. (Which a SVFR clearance seems to condone anyway). A SVFR is only issued if the ceiling is below 1000 ft and in fort lauderdale you are definitely over a populated area. Does a SVFR make it legal to be below 1000 ft over a populated area. If not, it should not exist or be allowed in areas where it is not possible. Regardless I would not have begun the SVFR flight had I thought the scattered layer would drive me down so low. I let the visibility trick me. I won't bother next time. SVFR even in its most legal interpretation forces you to be illegal in the cities.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN ATX CARGO PLT FLIES BELOW 1000 FT ABOVE A POPULATED AREA ON A SVFR CLRNC TO LAND AT OPF AFTER THE ILS WAS TAKEN OTS.
Narrative: ON MY FLT FROM TPA TO OPF ATC ADVISED OPF LOC INOP. I DEVIATED TO MIA, DUMPED MY CARGO, PICKED UP AN IFR TO FXE. MY PLAN WAS TO GET BELOW THE SCATTERED LAYER AT FXE AND CANCEL IFR, PICK UP A SPECIAL VFR AND GO TO OPF. (I HAD CALLED THE OPF TWR AND HE SAID THE WX WAS FAVORABLE FOR SPECIAL VFR.) AFTER SHOOTING THE LOC APCH IT WAS EVIDENT THE WX WAS VERY GOOD, VISIBILITY WAS EXCELLENT AND CLOUDS WERE VERY SCATTERED, BUT SEEMED TO BE AROUND 800 FT. ENRTE TO OPF I DSNDED TO AN ALT OF 650 FT TO REMAIN CLR OF THE SCATTERED LAYER. THE ONLY REG I BUSTED WAS THE 1000 FT OBSTACLE CLRNC OVER A POPULATED AREA. (WHICH A SVFR CLRNC SEEMS TO CONDONE ANYWAY). A SVFR IS ONLY ISSUED IF THE CEILING IS BELOW 1000 FT AND IN FORT LAUDERDALE YOU ARE DEFINITELY OVER A POPULATED AREA. DOES A SVFR MAKE IT LEGAL TO BE BELOW 1000 FT OVER A POPULATED AREA. IF NOT, IT SHOULD NOT EXIST OR BE ALLOWED IN AREAS WHERE IT IS NOT POSSIBLE. REGARDLESS I WOULD NOT HAVE BEGUN THE SVFR FLT HAD I THOUGHT THE SCATTERED LAYER WOULD DRIVE ME DOWN SO LOW. I LET THE VISIBILITY TRICK ME. I WON'T BOTHER NEXT TIME. SVFR EVEN IN ITS MOST LEGAL INTERP FORCES YOU TO BE ILLEGAL IN THE CITIES.
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.