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Pilot of formation fly-by flight noticed that the leader took the flight below the waiver authorized altitude during a fly-by over a congested area.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 270147 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199404 |
| Day | Sat |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : sli |
| State Reference | CA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 150 msl bound upper : 300 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise other |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 2400 flight time type : 120 |
| ASRS Report | 270147 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : far non adherence other other anomaly other |
| 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 #4 on a 4 ship formation. The flight was for a local event fly-by. An FAA waiver was supposedly obtained and the flight itself was well planned and briefed. However, during one of the passes, I realized too late that we have descended below our briefed altitude to approximately 300 ft AGL. Since this was not briefed, it was probably not 'waived' by the waiver. We all 'followed the leader.' I realized the low altitude when out of the corner of my eyes, I found the buildings and streets closer than usual. I believe since the leader organized and planned the flight, he was pressured to impress the crowd. I also believe that his lack of civilian aviation experience and knowledge contributed to this. This deviation lasted for approximately 1 1/2 mins. I considered breaking off, but declined since other aircraft (banners) were near by. The flight itself was steady and I considered it safer to stay within the flight.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PLT OF FORMATION FLY-BY FLT NOTICED THAT THE LEADER TOOK THE FLT BELOW THE WAIVER AUTHORIZED ALT DURING A FLY-BY OVER A CONGESTED AREA.
Narrative: I WAS #4 ON A 4 SHIP FORMATION. THE FLT WAS FOR A LCL EVENT FLY-BY. AN FAA WAIVER WAS SUPPOSEDLY OBTAINED AND THE FLT ITSELF WAS WELL PLANNED AND BRIEFED. HOWEVER, DURING ONE OF THE PASSES, I REALIZED TOO LATE THAT WE HAVE DSNDED BELOW OUR BRIEFED ALT TO APPROX 300 FT AGL. SINCE THIS WAS NOT BRIEFED, IT WAS PROBABLY NOT 'WAIVED' BY THE WAIVER. WE ALL 'FOLLOWED THE LEADER.' I REALIZED THE LOW ALT WHEN OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYES, I FOUND THE BUILDINGS AND STREETS CLOSER THAN USUAL. I BELIEVE SINCE THE LEADER ORGANIZED AND PLANNED THE FLT, HE WAS PRESSURED TO IMPRESS THE CROWD. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT HIS LACK OF CIVILIAN AVIATION EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS. THIS DEV LASTED FOR APPROX 1 1/2 MINS. I CONSIDERED BREAKING OFF, BUT DECLINED SINCE OTHER ACFT (BANNERS) WERE NEAR BY. THE FLT ITSELF WAS STEADY AND I CONSIDERED IT SAFER TO STAY WITHIN THE FLT.
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.