GA small aircraft circled too low over airport buildings following IAP ndg approach.

Attributes
ACN	99239
Time
Date	198811
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 3s2
State Reference	OR
Altitude	agl bound lower : 200 agl bound upper : 400
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pdx
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 585 flight time type : 450
ASRS Report	99239
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure 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 making my approach I had to circle to land to lose airspeed. I crossed over the numbers and turned quickly to enter base leg to intercept final approach course at which instant I crossed over the top of bldgs and hangars to land. These bldgs are located out past the end of the runway approximately 1/4 mi. Conditions being at minimums I had to keep my pattern tight consequently crossing directly over the top of these bldgs. I believe I came within 200' of them as I crossed over.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA CIRCLED TOO LOW OVER ARPT BUILDINGS FOLLOWING IAP NDG APCH.

Narrative: AFTER MAKING MY APCH I HAD TO CIRCLE TO LAND TO LOSE AIRSPEED. I CROSSED OVER THE NUMBERS AND TURNED QUICKLY TO ENTER BASE LEG TO INTERCEPT FINAL APCH COURSE AT WHICH INSTANT I CROSSED OVER THE TOP OF BLDGS AND HANGARS TO LAND. THESE BLDGS ARE LOCATED OUT PAST THE END OF THE RWY APPROX 1/4 MI. CONDITIONS BEING AT MINIMUMS I HAD TO KEEP MY PATTERN TIGHT CONSEQUENTLY XING DIRECTLY OVER THE TOP OF THESE BLDGS. I BELIEVE I CAME WITHIN 200' OF THEM AS I CROSSED OVER.

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.