Small transport pilots on special VFR fly too low over populated area.

Attributes
ACN	184961
Time
Date	199107
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lgb
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 900 agl bound upper : 900
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : lgb tower : toa
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : svfr
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 10
ASRS Report	184961
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We (2 pilots, no passenger) departed toa special VFR with lgb as the destination for refueling the small transport. We reported clear of the toa control zone, got the lgb ATIS, and called lgb tower, requesting a special VFR approach. Tower replied that he was busy with IFR departures (not arrs, could not have he held the departures for our solo arrival?), and we could expect a 20 min delay (for a 5 min ete flight)! At our location (5 mi west), we reported the airport in sight, 5 mi visibility with clear skies above us while over a shipyard/industrial area at about 900 AGL. Despite this, tower would not approve a landing, and we were forced to return to toa under special VFR. After boarding some passenger, the small transport taxied out for a part 91 IFR flight, and the captain noticed a government vehicle following the aircraft, possibly trying to attract the lone crewmember's attention. No further information is available as to this occurrence.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT PLTS ON SPECIAL VFR FLY TOO LOW OVER POPULATED AREA.

Narrative: WE (2 PLTS, NO PAX) DEPARTED TOA SPECIAL VFR WITH LGB AS THE DEST FOR REFUELING THE SMT. WE RPTED CLR OF THE TOA CTL ZONE, GOT THE LGB ATIS, AND CALLED LGB TWR, REQUESTING A SPECIAL VFR APCH. TWR REPLIED THAT HE WAS BUSY WITH IFR DEPS (NOT ARRS, COULD NOT HAVE HE HELD THE DEPS FOR OUR SOLO ARR?), AND WE COULD EXPECT A 20 MIN DELAY (FOR A 5 MIN ETE FLT)! AT OUR LOCATION (5 MI W), WE RPTED THE ARPT IN SIGHT, 5 MI VISIBILITY WITH CLR SKIES ABOVE US WHILE OVER A SHIPYARD/INDUSTRIAL AREA AT ABOUT 900 AGL. DESPITE THIS, TWR WOULD NOT APPROVE A LNDG, AND WE WERE FORCED TO RETURN TO TOA UNDER SPECIAL VFR. AFTER BOARDING SOME PAX, THE SMT TAXIED OUT FOR A PART 91 IFR FLT, AND THE CAPT NOTICED A GOV VEHICLE FOLLOWING THE ACFT, POSSIBLY TRYING TO ATTRACT THE LONE CREWMEMBER'S ATTN. NO FURTHER INFO IS AVAILABLE AS TO THIS OCCURRENCE.

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.