An small aircraft flew low over a beach that was occupied by people.

Attributes
ACN	226398
Time
Date	199211
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : l52
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 100 agl bound upper : 100
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 15700 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	226398
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : observer
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

My wife and I were checking out a remote section of the central coast beach, reconnoitering per southeast for future walking. This beach is cut off from the ocean dune recreational area by fencing and is available only via a significant walk from a remote recreational parking area at the boundary of R-2516. I was flying the beach nward and we noticed 2 people walking the beach beneath us. I turned back out to sea, but not before coming within 500 ft of these persons. In retrospect, I should have stayed out to sea and checked the beach area first before flying down the beach. Part of my reason for checking out this area is that I plan to check with the forestry service for approval to land on part of this remote area, in coordination with some FAA authority, advise and consent.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA FLEW LOW OVER A BEACH THAT WAS OCCUPIED BY PEOPLE.

Narrative: MY WIFE AND I WERE CHKING OUT A REMOTE SECTION OF THE CENTRAL COAST BEACH, RECONNOITERING PER SE FOR FUTURE WALKING. THIS BEACH IS CUT OFF FROM THE OCEAN DUNE RECREATIONAL AREA BY FENCING AND IS AVAILABLE ONLY VIA A SIGNIFICANT WALK FROM A REMOTE RECREATIONAL PARKING AREA AT THE BOUNDARY OF R-2516. I WAS FLYING THE BEACH NWARD AND WE NOTICED 2 PEOPLE WALKING THE BEACH BENEATH US. I TURNED BACK OUT TO SEA, BUT NOT BEFORE COMING WITHIN 500 FT OF THESE PERSONS. IN RETROSPECT, I SHOULD HAVE STAYED OUT TO SEA AND CHKED THE BEACH AREA FIRST BEFORE FLYING DOWN THE BEACH. PART OF MY REASON FOR CHKING OUT THIS AREA IS THAT I PLAN TO CHK WITH THE FORESTRY SVC FOR APPROVAL TO LAND ON PART OF THIS REMOTE AREA, IN COORD WITH SOME FAA AUTHORITY, ADVISE AND CONSENT.

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.