GA small aircraft distraction by aircraft equipment problem flew below legal limit over terrain.

Attributes
ACN	81585
Time
Date	198801
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : con
State Reference	NH
Altitude	agl bound lower : 416 agl bound upper : 416
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 29 flight time total : 157
ASRS Report	81585
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After topping off fuel tanks at laconia,nh, I flew over lake winnipesaukee at 2000' MSL. After climbing to 3500 ft MSL I turned on a westerly heading towards the gunstock ski area, which is approximately 5 mi. Southeast of laconia airport while 3 to 4 mi east of the ski area, I began to demonstrate slow flight and relative ground speed to my passenger by flying into the wind coming out of the west. I intended to over fly the ski area at 3500' MSL and permit 1100' for terrain clearance. While 2 to 3 mi east of the peak, I noticed that the right fuel gauge indicated an empty tank. I decided the problem was a malfunctioning fuel gauge but began a precautionary descent towards laconia's pattern altitude in order to land and visually check the fuel level in the tank. At the time I crossed the peak, I was surprised to see the top of the mountain closer than expected. At the time my altimeter read 2800' MSL, a terrain clearance of 416'.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA DISTR BY ACFT EQUIPMENT PROBLEM FLEW BELOW LEGAL LIMIT OVER TERRAIN.

Narrative: AFTER TOPPING OFF FUEL TANKS AT LACONIA,NH, I FLEW OVER LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE AT 2000' MSL. AFTER CLIMBING TO 3500 FT MSL I TURNED ON A WESTERLY HEADING TOWARDS THE GUNSTOCK SKI AREA, WHICH IS APPROX 5 MI. SE OF LACONIA ARPT WHILE 3 TO 4 MI EAST OF THE SKI AREA, I BEGAN TO DEMONSTRATE SLOW FLT AND RELATIVE GND SPEED TO MY PASSENGER BY FLYING INTO THE WIND COMING OUT OF THE WEST. I INTENDED TO OVER FLY THE SKI AREA AT 3500' MSL AND PERMIT 1100' FOR TERRAIN CLRNC. WHILE 2 TO 3 MI EAST OF THE PEAK, I NOTICED THAT THE R FUEL GAUGE INDICATED AN EMPTY TANK. I DECIDED THE PROBLEM WAS A MALFUNCTIONING FUEL GAUGE BUT BEGAN A PRECAUTIONARY DESCENT TOWARDS LACONIA'S PATTERN ALTITUDE IN ORDER TO LAND AND VISUALLY CHECK THE FUEL LEVEL IN THE TANK. AT THE TIME I CROSSED THE PEAK, I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN CLOSER THAN EXPECTED. AT THE TIME MY ALTIMETER READ 2800' MSL, A TERRAIN CLRNC OF 416'.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.