T34 pilot on photo shoot descends below proper altitude.

Attributes
ACN	323487
Time
Date	199512
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sba
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1200 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sba
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Mentor (T-34)
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 pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 20
ASRS Report	323487
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While descending and circling for photos I was distracted. When I again looked at altimeter I had descended to 1200 ft MSL, though the ground below me was below 200 ft MSL, hills off to the north are higher. I believe I maintained greater than 1000 ft above any objects within 2000 ft horizontally but it is difficult to judge this distance as the hills are not charted. I then climbed to 2000 ft MSL to ensure compliance with far 91.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: T34 PLT ON PHOTO SHOOT DSNDS BELOW PROPER ALT.

Narrative: WHILE DSNDING AND CIRCLING FOR PHOTOS I WAS DISTRACTED. WHEN I AGAIN LOOKED AT ALTIMETER I HAD DSNDED TO 1200 FT MSL, THOUGH THE GND BELOW ME WAS BELOW 200 FT MSL, HILLS OFF TO THE N ARE HIGHER. I BELIEVE I MAINTAINED GREATER THAN 1000 FT ABOVE ANY OBJECTS WITHIN 2000 FT HORIZLY BUT IT IS DIFFICULT TO JUDGE THIS DISTANCE AS THE HILLS ARE NOT CHARTED. I THEN CLBED TO 2000 FT MSL TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH FAR 91.

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.