GA small aircraft reported for flying below 500' off shore at pie. Pilot claims he had received a re...

Attributes
ACN	91240
Time
Date	198807
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pie
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 400 agl bound upper : 400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : pie
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 2200 flight time type : 1300
ASRS Report	91240
Person 2
Function	observation : observer
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I fly traffic survey in the pinellas county area. I received a call over a scanner that a boat may have sunk off shore of indian rocks beach, fl. I then proceeded to the possible site but found nothing while viewing from my normal altitude of 1000' MSL. I then descended to 500' MSL to try to get a better look. While circling in a holding pattern or race track type pattern and looking for the sunk boat I inadvertently dropped to 400' MSL--keeping in mind that I was 800' from the shoreline. I was not at 400' but only a minute, then I climbed back to 1000' MSL. The FSDO office in orlando, fl, received a complaint from someone who lives on indian rocks beach stating that an small aircraft was flying low near his home. The FSDO is investigating the complaint. I realize that at 400' MSL IAS that yes, I was low, but my scan of the water at 800' from the shoreline indicated no sign of people or boats. That whole beach area from clearwater to saint petersburg is used for flight training. I don't know if the person who complained is just out to get someone because people fly over the beaches or near his home, but I would never violate the regulations on purpose.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA REPORTED FOR FLYING BELOW 500' OFF SHORE AT PIE. PLT CLAIMS HE HAD RECEIVED A REPORT THAT A BOAT HAD SUNK IN THE AREA AND HE WAS LOOKING FOR IT.

Narrative: I FLY TFC SURVEY IN THE PINELLAS COUNTY AREA. I RECEIVED A CALL OVER A SCANNER THAT A BOAT MAY HAVE SUNK OFF SHORE OF INDIAN ROCKS BEACH, FL. I THEN PROCEEDED TO THE POSSIBLE SITE BUT FOUND NOTHING WHILE VIEWING FROM MY NORMAL ALT OF 1000' MSL. I THEN DSNDED TO 500' MSL TO TRY TO GET A BETTER LOOK. WHILE CIRCLING IN A HOLDING PATTERN OR RACE TRACK TYPE PATTERN AND LOOKING FOR THE SUNK BOAT I INADVERTENTLY DROPPED TO 400' MSL--KEEPING IN MIND THAT I WAS 800' FROM THE SHORELINE. I WAS NOT AT 400' BUT ONLY A MINUTE, THEN I CLBED BACK TO 1000' MSL. THE FSDO OFFICE IN ORLANDO, FL, RECEIVED A COMPLAINT FROM SOMEONE WHO LIVES ON INDIAN ROCKS BEACH STATING THAT AN SMA WAS FLYING LOW NEAR HIS HOME. THE FSDO IS INVESTIGATING THE COMPLAINT. I REALIZE THAT AT 400' MSL IAS THAT YES, I WAS LOW, BUT MY SCAN OF THE WATER AT 800' FROM THE SHORELINE INDICATED NO SIGN OF PEOPLE OR BOATS. THAT WHOLE BEACH AREA FROM CLEARWATER TO SAINT PETERSBURG IS USED FOR FLT TRNING. I DON'T KNOW IF THE PERSON WHO COMPLAINED IS JUST OUT TO GET SOMEONE BECAUSE PEOPLE FLY OVER THE BEACHES OR NEAR HIS HOME, BUT I WOULD NEVER VIOLATE THE REGS ON PURPOSE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.

GA small aircraft reported for flying below 500' off shore at pie. Pilot claims he had received a report that a boat had sunk in the area and he was looking for it.