Inadvertent low flight over a golf course below 500' AGL.

Attributes
ACN	179920
Time
Date	199105
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 5g9
State Reference	MI
Altitude	agl bound lower : 400 agl bound upper : 500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : lga
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 11 flight time total : 1530 flight time type : 29
ASRS Report	179926
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After departing from 5g9, heading east and climbing past 1300' MSL, I decided to circle overhead a local golf course where I had recently done some work. The aerial perspective offered a good view of the course, which is under construction, and the work I had done. After circling a second time while using outside regulations, I looked inside and noticed that I had gone below 1200' MSL, which I felt equalled 500' AGL). At that point I began a climb above 1200' MSL and headed east again. I had intended on staying above 1200' MSL, but I became engrossed in the view outside the cockpit and allowed my altitude to drop below it. The reason for this incident was my eagerness to examine the course, which caused my scan to break down. To correct this situation in the future, I will either allow for this by climbing to a higher altitude before starting such a maneuver, or ensuring a level turn through an active and constant scan of the flight instruments.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INADVERTENT LOW FLT OVER A GOLF COURSE BELOW 500' AGL.

Narrative: AFTER DEPARTING FROM 5G9, HDG E AND CLBING PAST 1300' MSL, I DECIDED TO CIRCLE OVERHEAD A LCL GOLF COURSE WHERE I HAD RECENTLY DONE SOME WORK. THE AERIAL PERSPECTIVE OFFERED A GOOD VIEW OF THE COURSE, WHICH IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, AND THE WORK I HAD DONE. AFTER CIRCLING A SECOND TIME WHILE USING OUTSIDE REGS, I LOOKED INSIDE AND NOTICED THAT I HAD GONE BELOW 1200' MSL, WHICH I FELT EQUALLED 500' AGL). AT THAT POINT I BEGAN A CLB ABOVE 1200' MSL AND HEADED E AGAIN. I HAD INTENDED ON STAYING ABOVE 1200' MSL, BUT I BECAME ENGROSSED IN THE VIEW OUTSIDE THE COCKPIT AND ALLOWED MY ALT TO DROP BELOW IT. THE REASON FOR THIS INCIDENT WAS MY EAGERNESS TO EXAMINE THE COURSE, WHICH CAUSED MY SCAN TO BREAK DOWN. TO CORRECT THIS SITUATION IN THE FUTURE, I WILL EITHER ALLOW FOR THIS BY CLBING TO A HIGHER ALT BEFORE STARTING SUCH A MANEUVER, OR ENSURING A LEVEL TURN THROUGH AN ACTIVE AND CONSTANT SCAN OF THE FLT INSTRUMENTS.

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.