C310K aircraft following freeway for navigation, at night. Reporter pilot saw another aircraft ahead and rather than turn for avoidance, descended over populated area. When reporter contacted tower for landing the other aircraft, police helicopter, told reporter that he had flown too low over the area.

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Attributes
ACN	357652
Time
Date	199701
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : emt
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : phl
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna 310/T310C
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Helicopter
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 : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 1500 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	357652
Person 2
Affiliation	government other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 400
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

As I was returning on my trip from santa barbara to el monte, at burbank I began my descent. I descended from burbank to the rose bowl and I stopped the descent around 2000 ft MSL. I continued to follow the 210 freeway to el monte. I noticed another aircraft straight in front of me at approximately the same altitude so I began my descent for pattern altitude (1300 ft MSL). I stopped the descent around 1500 ft MSL/500-600 ft AGL over pasadena. The other aircraft flew directly over me. I continued for el monte and made my initial call for landing. After I made my call the other aircraft asked me to repeat my full call sign. So I repeated my full call sign and they told me they were the police. They were patrolling the area and thought I was too low and too close when we passed each other. After that conversation I continued for el monte and made a nice, safe landing. Looking back, I probably should have remained at my present altitude and turned to the right of the other aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C310K ACFT FOLLOWING FREEWAY FOR NAV, AT NIGHT. RPTR PLT SAW ANOTHER ACFT AHEAD AND RATHER THAN TURN FOR AVOIDANCE, DSNDED OVER POPULATED AREA. WHEN RPTR CONTACTED TWR FOR LNDG THE OTHER ACFT, POLICE HELI, TOLD RPTR THAT HE HAD FLOWN TOO LOW OVER THE AREA.

Narrative: AS I WAS RETURNING ON MY TRIP FROM SANTA BARBARA TO EL MONTE, AT BURBANK I BEGAN MY DSCNT. I DSNDED FROM BURBANK TO THE ROSE BOWL AND I STOPPED THE DSCNT AROUND 2000 FT MSL. I CONTINUED TO FOLLOW THE 210 FREEWAY TO EL MONTE. I NOTICED ANOTHER ACFT STRAIGHT IN FRONT OF ME AT APPROX THE SAME ALT SO I BEGAN MY DSCNT FOR PATTERN ALT (1300 FT MSL). I STOPPED THE DSCNT AROUND 1500 FT MSL/500-600 FT AGL OVER PASADENA. THE OTHER ACFT FLEW DIRECTLY OVER ME. I CONTINUED FOR EL MONTE AND MADE MY INITIAL CALL FOR LNDG. AFTER I MADE MY CALL THE OTHER ACFT ASKED ME TO REPEAT MY FULL CALL SIGN. SO I REPEATED MY FULL CALL SIGN AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WERE THE POLICE. THEY WERE PATROLLING THE AREA AND THOUGHT I WAS TOO LOW AND TOO CLOSE WHEN WE PASSED EACH OTHER. AFTER THAT CONVERSATION I CONTINUED FOR EL MONTE AND MADE A NICE, SAFE LNDG. LOOKING BACK, I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE REMAINED AT MY PRESENT ALT AND TURNED TO THE R OF THE OTHER ACFT.

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.