PVT INST RATED PLT OPERATES ACFT IN A LOW ALT CIVIL OP; WITHOUT OBSERVING HIS ALT ABOVE THE WATER.

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WE WERE RETURNING FROM A MISSION WHEN THE BACK SEAT PAX SAW THE DELTA QUEEN (RIVER PAX BOAT) ON THE ARKANSAS RIVER BELOW PINE BLUFF; AR. ASKED THE PLT IF HE WOULD GET A LITTLE LOWER AND FLY IN A POS SO HE COULD TAKE A PICTURE. THE PLT WAS FLYING ALONG THE RIVER WITH THE BOAT ON THE L SIDE OF THE ACFT SO THAT THE PAX COULD TAKE A PICTURE. AS WE WERE BROAD SIDE OF THE BOAT I OBSERVED THE ALTIMETER AND NOTED TO THE PLT WE WERE BELOW THE 500 FT MINIMUM. HE SHOULD CLB IMMEDIATELY AND CONTINUE THE HDG TO STAY OVER THE RIVER TO GAIN ALT. THAT IS WHAT HE DID AND WE DEPARTED THE AREA. WHEN WE PASSED THE BOAT I WILL ESTIMATE THAT WE WERE BTWN 1750 FT AND 2000 FT HORIZ DISTANCE FROM THE BOAT. THE PIC WAS INST RATED PVT PLT. THE PLT'S ATTN WAS TO GET INTO A POS FOR A GOOD PICTURE. HE WAS FLYING CAREFULLY; STAYED AWAY FROM THE BOAT SO AS TO GET A GOOD FULL PICTURE; HE WAS ALSO WATCHING THE SHORELINE SO AS TO NOT GET INTO THAT AREA WITH A PROB. HOWEVER; IN ALSO LOOKING AT THE BOAT DID NOT PAY PROPER ATTN TO THE REQUIRED ALT. EVEN THOUGH I HAD TAKEN MYSELF OUT OF FLYING STATUS BECAUSE OF AN INJURED ANKLE; HE COULD HAVE REQUESTED MY ASSISTANCE IN COCKPIT RESOURCE MGMNT DURING THE FLT. ALSO WE SHOULD HAVE TALKED ABOUT WHAT HE PLANNED TO DO; AND HOW HE WAS GOING TO FLY THE POS FOR THE PICTURE BEFOREHAND. WE NEVER DID DISCUSS A PLAN.