Small aircraft flies below far minimum safe altitude.

Attributes
ACN	257405
Time
Date	199311
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : nuq
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 800 msl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : nuq artcc : zoa
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 95 flight time total : 530 flight time type : 180
ASRS Report	257405
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar pilot : military
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other spatial deviation
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:

The purpose of flight was for aerial photography. Location was a shopping mall in mountain view. Operating between the altitudes of 800-1000 ft MSL. I was given an altitude restriction from moffett ('at or below 1000 ft'). I noticed my altimeter 850 ft MSL. I kept visual separation while maintaining a safe flying altitude. Terrain in the area was approximately 50-150 ft. When returning from the flight, I received a message to call the san jose FSDO. I returned the call and spoke to inspector and gave him a verbal report. Note: after approximately 10 mins, I left the area to go to other locations for the photographer. I departed the area at 1000 ft MSL. Some factors that needed attention was various aircraft that were departing moffett field. Visual separation was not a problem. Apparently 2 reports were filed with the san jose FSDO of a low flying aircraft, of which I was flying. The altitudes at which I was flying was appropriate for the photographer's needs and within safe parameters.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA FLIES BELOW FAR MINIMUM SAFE ALT.

Narrative: THE PURPOSE OF FLT WAS FOR AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY. LOCATION WAS A SHOPPING MALL IN MOUNTAIN VIEW. OPERATING BTWN THE ALTS OF 800-1000 FT MSL. I WAS GIVEN AN ALT RESTRICTION FROM MOFFETT ('AT OR BELOW 1000 FT'). I NOTICED MY ALTIMETER 850 FT MSL. I KEPT VISUAL SEPARATION WHILE MAINTAINING A SAFE FLYING ALT. TERRAIN IN THE AREA WAS APPROX 50-150 FT. WHEN RETURNING FROM THE FLT, I RECEIVED A MESSAGE TO CALL THE SAN JOSE FSDO. I RETURNED THE CALL AND SPOKE TO INSPECTOR AND GAVE HIM A VERBAL RPT. NOTE: AFTER APPROX 10 MINS, I LEFT THE AREA TO GO TO OTHER LOCATIONS FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHER. I DEPARTED THE AREA AT 1000 FT MSL. SOME FACTORS THAT NEEDED ATTN WAS VARIOUS ACFT THAT WERE DEPARTING MOFFETT FIELD. VISUAL SEPARATION WAS NOT A PROB. APPARENTLY 2 RPTS WERE FILED WITH THE SAN JOSE FSDO OF A LOW FLYING ACFT, OF WHICH I WAS FLYING. THE ALTS AT WHICH I WAS FLYING WAS APPROPRIATE FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S NEEDS AND WITHIN SAFE PARAMETERS.

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.