A PVT PLT OF AN AERONCA 7AC FLIES 300 FT OVER A HOUSING TRACT LOCATED IN THE HILLS DURING A PHOTO SHOOT OF HIS ACFT.

Narrative

THE PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS TO FLY FORMATION WITH ANOTHER ACFT AND TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS OF MY ACFT. BECAUSE THIS IS NOT THE TYPE FLYING THE PLT OF THE OTHER ACFT AND I REGULARLY DO (CLOSE FORMATION); WE METHODICALLY AND CAREFULLY BRIEFED THE FLT ALONG WITH THE PHOTOGRAPHER (WHO WAS EXPERIENCED AT THIS) AND MY SAFETY PLT/OBSERVER. WE BRIEFED THE 'RULES' FOR THE FORMATION; COMS; HAND SIGNALS AND EACH CREWMAN'S PARTICULAR DUTIES. THE LEAD PLT WAS TO FLY A STEADY COURSE AND ALT AS REQUESTED BY THE PHOTOGRAPHER TO GET THE DESIRED SUN ANGLE AND BACKGND. I; OF COURSE; NEVER TOOK MY EYES OFF THE LEAD AND THE PHOTOGRAPHER COACHED MY POS WITH A COMBINATION OF HAND SIGNALS AND RADIO COMS. MY WORKLOAD WAS HIGH BUT ALL WAS GOING WELL AS WE FLEW OVER THE UNPOPULATED HILLS AT ABOUT 500 FT AGL. AS WE APCHED A RIDGELINE; MY OBSERVER SAID; 'THERE'S A HOUSING TRACT AHEAD WE SHOULDN'T FLY OVER.' I REMAINED CONCENTRATED ON THE LEAD AND SUDDENLY WE WERE FLYING VERY LOW OVER SOME VERY EXPENSIVE HOMES. I IMMEDIATELY BROKE AWAY FROM THE LEAD BUT THAT MANEUVER TOOK MY ACFT DIRECTLY OVER THE HEART OF THE HOUSING TRACT AT ABOUT 300 FT AGL! OH POOP! MY ANTIQUE AIRPLANE HAS 3 FT HIGH NC NUMBERS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE WING; TOO! I REJOINED WITH THE LEAD AND RADIOED THAT THERE'D BE NO MORE OF THAT AND HE SAID THAT THE PHOTOGRAPHER HAD BEEN GETTING SOME 'GREAT SHOTS' AND DIDN'T WANT TO BREAK IT OFF. DESPITE OUR ATTEMPT TO FLY THE MISSION WITH MIL-LIKE PLANNING AND COORD; WE SCREWED UP! WITH HINDSIGHT; WE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN MORE TIME AND STARTED UP HIGHER; REHEARSED; AND THEN DROPPED DOWN FOR THE FINAL PHOTOS.