ULTRA LIGHT VEHICLE OPERATING UNDER SECTION 103 OF THE FAR'S UNINTENTIONALLY FLEW UNDER RIVER BRIDGE IN A REMOTE AREA; AND BELIEVED THAT HE WAS IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH THE FAR'S.

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I WAS FLYING A SINGLE-SEAT ULTRA LIGHT (FAA PART 103) UP THE ROGUE RIVER IN AN AREA THAT I WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH. I HAD DSNDED TO APPROX 40 FT AGL WHEN THE CANYON BECAME VERY NARROW AND STEEP. I CAME AROUND A SHARP TURN IN THE RIVER AND FOUND MYSELF FACING A TALL HIGH BRIDGE. THE BRIDGE WAS TOO TALL TO CLB OVER; AND THE CANYON WAS TOO NARROW TO TURN AROUND IN; SO FLYING UNDER THE BRIDGE WAS MY ONLY OPTION. BECAUSE THE BRIDGE WAS BOTH TALL AND WIDE; THERE WAS PLENTY OF CLRNC FOR THE ULTRA LIGHT PLANE TO FLY THROUGH. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NOBODY ON THE BRIDGE; IN THE RIVER; OR ON THE RIVERBANKS AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT. THE ONLY PERSON OR PROPERTY IN DANGER AT THIS TIME WAS MYSELF AND MY PLANE. IT CAME TO MY ATTN LATER THAT DAY; THAT A FRIEND OF MINE WHOM HAD ALSO BEEN FLYING LOW ON THE RIVER; WAS CITED FOR FLYING BELOW 1000 FT AGL. I AM NOW AWARE OF BOTH THE LAW AND THE DANGERS OF FLYING AT LOW ALTS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT HE HAS RECEIVED A CITATION FROM BLM FOR FLYING LESS THAN 1000 FT OVER A BRIDGE AND SCENIC AREA WITH A $100 FINE. HE REITERATED THAT HE WILL BE NOT ONLY ADHERING TO THAT RULE; BUT ALSO KEEP A HIGHER ALT IN CASE OF A FORCED LNDG.