Pilot of an small aircraft sel failed to maintain the minimum safe altitude over persons and propert...

Attributes
ACN	313949
Time
Date	199508
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 56s
State Reference	OR
Altitude	agl bound lower : 300 agl bound upper : 700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : lns
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 : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	313949
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While flying south along the oregon coast at between 500 ft and 700 ft AGL and about 750 ft offshore, my attention was diverted by the beautiful scenery. I was looking outside for an extended period of time when I noticed a decrease in altitude. The altimeter was now reading about 300 ft and I was nearly above some people on a beach. As soon as I noticed the deviation, I began a climb and turned away from the beach (toward the west). This was completely unintentional and I am aware of the minimum altitudes mandated by far part 91. I believe that the contributing factors include the beautiful WX and surroundings, but it never would have happened had I been paying more attention to my altitude.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF AN SMA SEL FAILED TO MAINTAIN THE MINIMUM SAFE ALT OVER PERSONS AND PROPERTY.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING S ALONG THE OREGON COAST AT BTWN 500 FT AND 700 FT AGL AND ABOUT 750 FT OFFSHORE, MY ATTN WAS DIVERTED BY THE BEAUTIFUL SCENERY. I WAS LOOKING OUTSIDE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME WHEN I NOTICED A DECREASE IN ALT. THE ALTIMETER WAS NOW READING ABOUT 300 FT AND I WAS NEARLY ABOVE SOME PEOPLE ON A BEACH. AS SOON AS I NOTICED THE DEV, I BEGAN A CLB AND TURNED AWAY FROM THE BEACH (TOWARD THE W). THIS WAS COMPLETELY UNINTENTIONAL AND I AM AWARE OF THE MINIMUM ALTS MANDATED BY FAR PART 91. I BELIEVE THAT THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS INCLUDE THE BEAUTIFUL WX AND SURROUNDINGS, BUT IT NEVER WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD I BEEN PAYING MORE ATTN TO MY ALT.

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.

Pilot of an small aircraft sel failed to maintain the minimum safe altitude over persons and property.