An small aircraft photo pilot flew low to get a better picture.

Attributes
ACN	235446
Time
Date	199303
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 2v2
State Reference	CO
Altitude	agl bound lower : 800 agl bound upper : 800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 665 flight time type : 350
ASRS Report	235446
Person 2
Function	observation : observer
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other other spatial deviation
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:

I was asked to take someone up for a photo shoot of some construction in progress near a shopping center. The area around the shopping center has quite a few fields and open areas so I felt that 500 ft AGL and above would be a good altitude that would give the photographer a chance for good pictures and a safe and legal altitude. The flight was lovely, the photographer happy with the shots. I never went below 700 ft AGL and thought that we were in a safe position at all times. All was well until about an hour after I had returned from the flight. A call had been received at the FBO inquiring about 'how high was that plane flying.' my honesty got the best of me and I said 'between 5700 and 5800 ft.' (field elevation is 5050 ft.) then and only then did I think that maybe someone had felt that I was flying over a congested area and was violating FARS. I drove over to the area this morning and still feel that this is not what I would call a very congested area. However, from now on, I feel that as long as I am anywhere near the edge of town and not right in the country I will not go lower than 1000 ft AGL just to avoid my 'anguished mind.' pilots flying for photographers have to really think the situation through and beware of the inherent nature to help the 'shoot' by dipping down too low.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA PHOTO PLT FLEW LOW TO GET A BETTER PICTURE.

Narrative: I WAS ASKED TO TAKE SOMEONE UP FOR A PHOTO SHOOT OF SOME CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS NEAR A SHOPPING CTR. THE AREA AROUND THE SHOPPING CTR HAS QUITE A FEW FIELDS AND OPEN AREAS SO I FELT THAT 500 FT AGL AND ABOVE WOULD BE A GOOD ALT THAT WOULD GIVE THE PHOTOGRAPHER A CHANCE FOR GOOD PICTURES AND A SAFE AND LEGAL ALT. THE FLT WAS LOVELY, THE PHOTOGRAPHER HAPPY WITH THE SHOTS. I NEVER WENT BELOW 700 FT AGL AND THOUGHT THAT WE WERE IN A SAFE POS AT ALL TIMES. ALL WAS WELL UNTIL ABOUT AN HR AFTER I HAD RETURNED FROM THE FLT. A CALL HAD BEEN RECEIVED AT THE FBO INQUIRING ABOUT 'HOW HIGH WAS THAT PLANE FLYING.' MY HONESTY GOT THE BEST OF ME AND I SAID 'BTWN 5700 AND 5800 FT.' (FIELD ELEVATION IS 5050 FT.) THEN AND ONLY THEN DID I THINK THAT MAYBE SOMEONE HAD FELT THAT I WAS FLYING OVER A CONGESTED AREA AND WAS VIOLATING FARS. I DROVE OVER TO THE AREA THIS MORNING AND STILL FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT WHAT I WOULD CALL A VERY CONGESTED AREA. HOWEVER, FROM NOW ON, I FEEL THAT AS LONG AS I AM ANYWHERE NEAR THE EDGE OF TOWN AND NOT RIGHT IN THE COUNTRY I WILL NOT GO LOWER THAN 1000 FT AGL JUST TO AVOID MY 'ANGUISHED MIND.' PLTS FLYING FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS HAVE TO REALLY THINK THE SIT THROUGH AND BEWARE OF THE INHERENT NATURE TO HELP THE 'SHOOT' BY DIPPING DOWN TOO LOW.

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.