Communication pilot of a small aircraft sel flew below the MSA during a photo flight.

Attributes
ACN	287342
Time
Date	199411
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : y70
State Reference	MI
Altitude	agl bound lower : 300 agl bound upper : 500
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 : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 126 flight time total : 1077 flight time type : 724
ASRS Report	287342
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : observer
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : investigated Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While taking aerial photographs, the typical altitude for our company is between 300 ft and 500 ft AGL. It is our belief that the far's state that you may fly at any altitude as long as you can make a safe landing if you have an engine failure. I was taking aerial photographs at altitudes between 300 ft and 500 ft AGL. A resident of one of the homes I was taking pictures of called the state police to report a low flying aircraft. I do not know the specific altitude I would have been at during the occurrence. I do know that I operate my aircraft with safety first in mind at all times. I have notified the police that I will be taking the pictures and they have indicated that it will be no problem. In the future I can try to keep my altitude higher so as not to offend anybody. This flying is not pleasure barnstorming but rather a professional business that keeps the safety of everybody in mind while flying.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COM PLT OF A SMA SEL FLEW BELOW THE MSA DURING A PHOTO FLT.

Narrative: WHILE TAKING AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS, THE TYPICAL ALT FOR OUR COMPANY IS BTWN 300 FT AND 500 FT AGL. IT IS OUR BELIEF THAT THE FAR'S STATE THAT YOU MAY FLY AT ANY ALT AS LONG AS YOU CAN MAKE A SAFE LNDG IF YOU HAVE AN ENG FAILURE. I WAS TAKING AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS AT ALTS BTWN 300 FT AND 500 FT AGL. A RESIDENT OF ONE OF THE HOMES I WAS TAKING PICTURES OF CALLED THE STATE POLICE TO RPT A LOW FLYING ACFT. I DO NOT KNOW THE SPECIFIC ALT I WOULD HAVE BEEN AT DURING THE OCCURRENCE. I DO KNOW THAT I OPERATE MY ACFT WITH SAFETY FIRST IN MIND AT ALL TIMES. I HAVE NOTIFIED THE POLICE THAT I WILL BE TAKING THE PICTURES AND THEY HAVE INDICATED THAT IT WILL BE NO PROB. IN THE FUTURE I CAN TRY TO KEEP MY ALT HIGHER SO AS NOT TO OFFEND ANYBODY. THIS FLYING IS NOT PLEASURE BARNSTORMING BUT RATHER A PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS THAT KEEPS THE SAFETY OF EVERYBODY IN MIND WHILE FLYING.

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.