<< >> NASA ASRS Report 354173, November 1996

Small aircraft flying at low level in mountainous terrain, ridge had a low point to cross and in crossing the ridge noted people possibly along the edge. Turned left as much as possible to avoid.

Attributes
ACN	354173
Time
Date	199611
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : smx
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 500 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	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 2200 flight time type : 15
ASRS Report	354173
Person 2
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 2200 flight time type : 15
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter other non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I thought most folks would be on the highway or at their destination and thought this would be a good opportunity to practice mountain flying in the low hills. Little or no chance of conflict -- it hones flying skills. I was flying along and below a ridge which turned right, so I did too. The ridge dropped in elevation giving me the opportunity to cross over. As I approached I saw what might have been a small group of people on the ridge top. I turned left as far as terrain would permit. I never saw them again. I only saw them for about 1 second. They may have been bushes. They were backlit against the sky.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA FLYING AT LOW LEVEL IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, RIDGE HAD A LOW POINT TO CROSS AND IN XING THE RIDGE NOTED PEOPLE POSSIBLY ALONG THE EDGE. TURNED L AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID.

Narrative: I THOUGHT MOST FOLKS WOULD BE ON THE HWY OR AT THEIR DEST AND THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE MOUNTAIN FLYING IN THE LOW HILLS. LITTLE OR NO CHANCE OF CONFLICT -- IT HONES FLYING SKILLS. I WAS FLYING ALONG AND BELOW A RIDGE WHICH TURNED R, SO I DID TOO. THE RIDGE DROPPED IN ELEVATION GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO CROSS OVER. AS I APCHED I SAW WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE ON THE RIDGE TOP. I TURNED L AS FAR AS TERRAIN WOULD PERMIT. I NEVER SAW THEM AGAIN. I ONLY SAW THEM FOR ABOUT 1 SECOND. THEY MAY HAVE BEEN BUSHES. THEY WERE BACKLIT AGAINST THE SKY.

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.