Narrative:

On oct/xa/98 I was practicing IFR NDB procedures. I was under IFR rules (under the hood) with my cfii instructor. We practiced an NDB tracking session at the NDB located north of dto. Upon completion of this, I was instructed to return to gpm under IFR rules (under the hood) via alliance and fort worth meecham. We approached gpm from the west at 2000 ft MSL. Once we contacted the tower (about 7 mi west), I descended to 1500 ft MSL (the traffic pattern altitude of gpm is 1400 ft). I then went visual to land. We were given a downwind approach to runway 35 (which is south of the field). We were in contact with the tower the entire time and were never at an altitude which would be considered unsafe. There are homes approximately 1 mi south of the field. When we crossed mayfield (just south of the beginning of runway 35) we were on the VASI's. We landed without incident. I want to reiterate at no time were we at an unsafe altitude and I know people can misjudge altitudes. The numbers of my plane are 12 inches and can be easily seen up to 500 ft above the surface since they are bold colors. Also note, I was with an instructor the entire time and at no time did he have to take control due to unsafe operation. I was under control and never operated at an unsafe altitude. If I were only 50 ft (as is suggested) we would have hit wires or some obstruction (like the telephone lines) which are south of the field.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT AND INSTRUCTOR IN PA28 ENTERED PATTERN AND LANDED AT GPM. PLT MAY HAVE RECEIVED A COMPLAINT FROM SOMEONE ON THE GND THAT HE WAS FLYING TOO LOW.

Narrative: ON OCT/XA/98 I WAS PRACTICING IFR NDB PROCS. I WAS UNDER IFR RULES (UNDER THE HOOD) WITH MY CFII INSTRUCTOR. WE PRACTICED AN NDB TRACKING SESSION AT THE NDB LOCATED N OF DTO. UPON COMPLETION OF THIS, I WAS INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO GPM UNDER IFR RULES (UNDER THE HOOD) VIA ALLIANCE AND FORT WORTH MEECHAM. WE APCHED GPM FROM THE W AT 2000 FT MSL. ONCE WE CONTACTED THE TWR (ABOUT 7 MI W), I DSNDED TO 1500 FT MSL (THE TFC PATTERN ALT OF GPM IS 1400 FT). I THEN WENT VISUAL TO LAND. WE WERE GIVEN A DOWNWIND APCH TO RWY 35 (WHICH IS S OF THE FIELD). WE WERE IN CONTACT WITH THE TWR THE ENTIRE TIME AND WERE NEVER AT AN ALT WHICH WOULD BE CONSIDERED UNSAFE. THERE ARE HOMES APPROX 1 MI S OF THE FIELD. WHEN WE CROSSED MAYFIELD (JUST S OF THE BEGINNING OF RWY 35) WE WERE ON THE VASI'S. WE LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. I WANT TO REITERATE AT NO TIME WERE WE AT AN UNSAFE ALT AND I KNOW PEOPLE CAN MISJUDGE ALTS. THE NUMBERS OF MY PLANE ARE 12 INCHES AND CAN BE EASILY SEEN UP TO 500 FT ABOVE THE SURFACE SINCE THEY ARE BOLD COLORS. ALSO NOTE, I WAS WITH AN INSTRUCTOR THE ENTIRE TIME AND AT NO TIME DID HE HAVE TO TAKE CTL DUE TO UNSAFE OP. I WAS UNDER CTL AND NEVER OPERATED AT AN UNSAFE ALT. IF I WERE ONLY 50 FT (AS IS SUGGESTED) WE WOULD HAVE HIT WIRES OR SOME OBSTRUCTION (LIKE THE TELEPHONE LINES) WHICH ARE S OF THE FIELD.

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.