Aerial photo flight conducted at less than 1000' above a built-up area.

Attributes
ACN	179678
Time
Date	199105
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 7g2
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 500 msl bound upper : 500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 1550 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	179678
Events
Anomaly	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:

While working aerial photography, I was trying to verify a house on the ground with a proof in my hand. To verify the house, I can tell usually from 1000-1500'. I had trouble due to a bad proof. I descended down to 500' AGL and verified the house. I'm not sure if I was lower than 500' AGL, but due to erratic change in elevation from jefferson, oh to meadville, PA, I think I maintained at least 500' AGL. Next time I'll continue to circle 1000-1500', and if I can't tell, I'll just have to call the customer.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AERIAL PHOTO FLT CONDUCTED AT LESS THAN 1000' ABOVE A BUILT-UP AREA.

Narrative: WHILE WORKING AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY, I WAS TRYING TO VERIFY A HOUSE ON THE GND WITH A PROOF IN MY HAND. TO VERIFY THE HOUSE, I CAN TELL USUALLY FROM 1000-1500'. I HAD TROUBLE DUE TO A BAD PROOF. I DSNDED DOWN TO 500' AGL AND VERIFIED THE HOUSE. I'M NOT SURE IF I WAS LOWER THAN 500' AGL, BUT DUE TO ERRATIC CHANGE IN ELEVATION FROM JEFFERSON, OH TO MEADVILLE, PA, I THINK I MAINTAINED AT LEAST 500' AGL. NEXT TIME I'LL CONTINUE TO CIRCLE 1000-1500', AND IF I CAN'T TELL, I'LL JUST HAVE TO CALL THE CUSTOMER.

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.