GA small aircraft low level flight over populated area.

Attributes
ACN	175145
Time
Date	199104
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : 7xs0
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl bound lower : 600 agl bound upper : 600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low 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 : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 7500 flight time type : 15
ASRS Report	175145
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far
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:

As a professional jet pilot, I have been out of touch with the more general far's, especially those concerning minimum altitudes. I have purchased a light plane and decided to take a flight over the area to see what effect recent rains were having on area creeks. I realized later, that my altitude should have been 1000' or over the highest obstacle while sightseeing. Consequently I have reviewed the minimum altitude section of 91.115 and will comply with it in the future. The main point I'm trying to make is that when a pilot like myself who always flys IFR transitions to general aviation type flying, it's important to keep up with the regulations that cover that kind of flying.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA LOW LEVEL FLT OVER POPULATED AREA.

Narrative: AS A PROFESSIONAL JET PLT, I HAVE BEEN OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE MORE GENERAL FAR'S, ESPECIALLY THOSE CONCERNING MINIMUM ALTS. I HAVE PURCHASED A LIGHT PLANE AND DECIDED TO TAKE A FLT OVER THE AREA TO SEE WHAT EFFECT RECENT RAINS WERE HAVING ON AREA CREEKS. I REALIZED LATER, THAT MY ALT SHOULD HAVE BEEN 1000' OR OVER THE HIGHEST OBSTACLE WHILE SIGHTSEEING. CONSEQUENTLY I HAVE REVIEWED THE MINIMUM ALT SECTION OF 91.115 AND WILL COMPLY WITH IT IN THE FUTURE. THE MAIN POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE IS THAT WHEN A PLT LIKE MYSELF WHO ALWAYS FLYS IFR TRANSITIONS TO GENERAL AVIATION TYPE FLYING, IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP UP WITH THE REGS THAT COVER THAT KIND OF FLYING.

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.