<< >> NASA ASRS Report 668972, August 2005

A traffic watch C172 pilot encountered a low ceiling and remained at 500 ft below the clouds but not 1000 ft above obstacles.

Attributes
ACN	668972
Time
Date	200508
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : zzz.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 74 flight time total : 630 flight time type : 304
ASRS Report	668972
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : crossing restriction not met inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Environmental Factor
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

When I took off; the WX was clear at the departure airport. I forgot the exact ceilings to the north of the airport; but they were high enough for me to fly under without concern. Shortly after takeoff; I realized the clouds weren't as high as previously thought and the ceilings eventually came down. To stay at least 500 ft below the clouds; I compromised the minimum safe altitude of 1000 ft above the highest obstacle over a congested area. I'm a new pilot with a traffic watch company and wanted to make a good impression. I know now that my minimums are higher than what the conditions were that day. I also know to turn around and not risk it.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A TFC WATCH C172 PLT ENCOUNTERED A LOW CEILING AND REMAINED AT 500 FT BELOW THE CLOUDS BUT NOT 1000 FT ABOVE OBSTACLES.

Narrative: WHEN I TOOK OFF; THE WX WAS CLR AT THE DEP ARPT. I FORGOT THE EXACT CEILINGS TO THE N OF THE ARPT; BUT THEY WERE HIGH ENOUGH FOR ME TO FLY UNDER WITHOUT CONCERN. SHORTLY AFTER TKOF; I REALIZED THE CLOUDS WEREN'T AS HIGH AS PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT AND THE CEILINGS EVENTUALLY CAME DOWN. TO STAY AT LEAST 500 FT BELOW THE CLOUDS; I COMPROMISED THE MINIMUM SAFE ALT OF 1000 FT ABOVE THE HIGHEST OBSTACLE OVER A CONGESTED AREA. I'M A NEW PLT WITH A TFC WATCH COMPANY AND WANTED TO MAKE A GOOD IMPRESSION. I KNOW NOW THAT MY MINIMUMS ARE HIGHER THAN WHAT THE CONDITIONS WERE THAT DAY. I ALSO KNOW TO TURN AROUND AND NOT RISK IT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.