GA small aircraft reported for low flight over populated area.

Attributes
ACN	198299
Time
Date	199111
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : crq
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 50 agl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 30
ASRS Report	198299
Person 2
Function	other personnel other
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On nov, 1991, I took my mother-in-law flying in a rented small transport. As agreed with my wife, we flew overhead our house to wave at her and my daughter. They were not outside so we circled 3 times before departing. I don't believe I descended below 1000 ft AGL, but 3 neighbors claim otherwise, stating to the FAA that I flew closer to 50 ft and leading to an investigation. What can I recommend beyond the obvious? If a pilot is going to fly over housing he/she would do well to fly at well over a thousand ft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA RPTED FOR LOW FLT OVER POPULATED AREA.

Narrative: ON NOV, 1991, I TOOK MY MOTHER-IN-LAW FLYING IN A RENTED SMT. AS AGREED WITH MY WIFE, WE FLEW OVERHEAD OUR HOUSE TO WAVE AT HER AND MY DAUGHTER. THEY WERE NOT OUTSIDE SO WE CIRCLED 3 TIMES BEFORE DEPARTING. I DON'T BELIEVE I DSNDED BELOW 1000 FT AGL, BUT 3 NEIGHBORS CLAIM OTHERWISE, STATING TO THE FAA THAT I FLEW CLOSER TO 50 FT AND LEADING TO AN INVESTIGATION. WHAT CAN I RECOMMEND BEYOND THE OBVIOUS? IF A PLT IS GOING TO FLY OVER HOUSING HE/SHE WOULD DO WELL TO FLY AT WELL OVER A THOUSAND FT.

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.