Flight instructor descends below minimum altitude to remain clear of clouds.

Attributes
ACN	440034
Time
Date	199906
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : mzb.vortac
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 300 agl bound upper : 400
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Cessna 210 Centurion / Turbo Centurion 210C, 210D
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : instructor oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 5800 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	440034
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : student
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During a training mission, the plan was to take off from NAS north island, san diego, ca, to carlsbad/palomar airport. We were to depart NAS north island and fly offshore along the coast to palomar airport. At the time of departure the WX at north island was 700 ft ceiling and 3-4 mi visibility. Lindbergh airport, which was along our route was reporting clear skies and good visibility. Palomar airport also reported no ceilings and good visibility. With this WX in mind we decided to depart SVFR out of NAS north island, and as we proceeded northbound, the marine layer would be dissipating and would be VFR to palomar airport. After takeoff we remained at 400 ft AGL along the coastline as we transitioned through lindbergh's class B airspace. As we proceeded north we could not get above 400 ft AGL above the water due to the marine layer. While en route we passed over several surfers and people along the shoreline at an altitude of 300-400 ft. We tried to maintain a minimum of 500 ft offshore, but while trying to find a place to fly inland where the WX was clear, we did get closer than 500 ft to people.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT INSTRUCTOR DSNDS BELOW MINIMUM ALT TO REMAIN CLR OF CLOUDS.

Narrative: DURING A TRAINING MISSION, THE PLAN WAS TO TAKE OFF FROM NAS NORTH ISLAND, SAN DIEGO, CA, TO CARLSBAD/PALOMAR ARPT. WE WERE TO DEPART NAS NORTH ISLAND AND FLY OFFSHORE ALONG THE COAST TO PALOMAR ARPT. AT THE TIME OF DEP THE WX AT NORTH ISLAND WAS 700 FT CEILING AND 3-4 MI VISIBILITY. LINDBERGH ARPT, WHICH WAS ALONG OUR RTE WAS RPTING CLR SKIES AND GOOD VISIBILITY. PALOMAR ARPT ALSO RPTED NO CEILINGS AND GOOD VISIBILITY. WITH THIS WX IN MIND WE DECIDED TO DEPART SVFR OUT OF NAS NORTH ISLAND, AND AS WE PROCEEDED NBOUND, THE MARINE LAYER WOULD BE DISSIPATING AND WOULD BE VFR TO PALOMAR ARPT. AFTER TKOF WE REMAINED AT 400 FT AGL ALONG THE COASTLINE AS WE TRANSITIONED THROUGH LINDBERGH'S CLASS B AIRSPACE. AS WE PROCEEDED N WE COULD NOT GET ABOVE 400 FT AGL ABOVE THE WATER DUE TO THE MARINE LAYER. WHILE ENRTE WE PASSED OVER SEVERAL SURFERS AND PEOPLE ALONG THE SHORELINE AT AN ALT OF 300-400 FT. WE TRIED TO MAINTAIN A MINIMUM OF 500 FT OFFSHORE, BUT WHILE TRYING TO FIND A PLACE TO FLY INLAND WHERE THE WX WAS CLR, WE DID GET CLOSER THAN 500 FT TO PEOPLE.

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.