C-150 PLT MAKES A LOW FLT OVER CHARITABLE EVENT TO DROP SOUVENIRS.

Narrative

I RENTED A CESSNA 150 ACFT AT THE ST MARY'S COUNTY ARPT; MD. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS PLEASURE. THIS INCLUDED A LOW FLYBY OF THE OPENING OF A LCL CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION'S WKEND PARTY. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY 4 OR 5 ADDITIONAL PASSES ACROSS THE FIELD TO DROP SMALL FELT BAGS (APPROX 1.5 INCHES BY 2.5 INCHES) THAT CONTAINED SOUVENIRS OF THE EVENT (KEY CHAINS; BUMPER STICKERS; ETC). I HAD NOT REALLY PLANNED TO CONDUCT THIS FLT; HOWEVER THE PLT THAT HAD AGREED TO DO IT CALLED ME THE DAY BEFORE AND TOLD ME THAT HE DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT MEDICAL CERTIFICATE; AND HE COULDN'T RENT THE AIRPLANE. I AGREED TO RENT THE AIRPLANE; AND ACT AS PIC FOR THE FLT. WE MET 1 HR BEFORE THE FLT TO BRIEF THE FLT; AND PREFLT THE ACFT. WE HAD DECIDED AT THE BRIEF THAT WE WOULD MAKE OUR LOW PASSES HEADING FROM N TO S AND POS THE ACFT TO THE W OF THE CROWD. THIS WOULD BE FOLLOWED BY A 270 DEG TURN TO THE R TO HEAD E WITH R-HAND RACETRACKS FOR THE SOUVENIR DROPS. I MADE OUR FIRST PASS OF THE FIELD HEADING S; AT AN ALT OF APPROX 25 FT; AIRSPD 105 MPH. THESE PASSES ENDED IN A PULL-UP TO APPROX 150 FT; AND A REDUCTION IN AIRSPD TO 85-90 MPH. AT THIS POINT; THE R SIDE WINDOW WAS OPENED TO DROP THE SOUVENIRS; AND 4 OR 5 PASSES WERE MADE OF THE FIELD ON A W TO E HDG AT APPROX 50 FT TO 80 FT (TREE TOPS). AT THE COMPLETION OF THE DROPS; I MADE 1 FINAL PASS AT APPROX 15 FT ON A HDG OF S WITH A PULL-UP AND AILERON ROCKING OF THE WINGS. WE CONTINUED OUR CLB TO 1000 FT; AND RETURNED TO THE ST MARY'S COUNTY ARPT. DURING BOTH THE LOW PASSES; AND THE DROP PASSES I FLEW OVER SMALL GROUPS OF PEOPLE IN THE CROWD. WHILE THIS IS A RURAL AREA; THE AREA I OVERFLEW HAD APPROX 200-250 PEOPLE SPREAD OVER A 7 ACRE GRASS AND SOYBEAN FIELD. NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING ANY PHASE OF THE FLT; BUT THE RISK WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR PLT ERROR (OTHER THAN THE OBVIOUS ONES); ENG OR AIRFRAME FAILURE; BIRD STRIKE; ETC. IN RETROSPECT; I CAN'T SAY WHY I AGREED TO DO THIS; OTHER THAN TO PLEASE A CROWD. THIS ATTEMPT RISKED THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE I WAS TRYING TO PLEASE; ADDITIONALLY PUT THE OWNERS OF THE ACFT IN LEGAL JEOPARDY. WHILE THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I INTENDED TO DO THAT DAY; THEY MAY HAVE HAD TO PROVE THAT TO A JURY. IT WAS STUPID. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES HE NOW KNOWS THAT HE OR HIS FRIEND SHOULD HAVE CONTACTED FAA FOR PERMISSION FOR A FLY OVER. HE HAS LEARNED A LOT IN HINDSIGHT. HE FEELS QUITE FORTUNATE THAT HE HAS HEARD NOTHING FROM THE FAA AT THIS POINT. HE DID STATE THAT HE KNOWS IT WAS DUMB!