wrote in message ...

But you can't legally remain below 700 ft AGL when IFR. Gotta be at least
1000 feet above anything within four miles or 2000 in mountainous terrain
(or something like that).

So you're stuck. Can't climb, can't descend. Every direction is illegal.
That makes it careless and reckless.


No, you can't legally remain below 700 ft AGL when IFR, but he was not in
IMC when he was below 700 AGL. Remember, he took off under IFR but he was
in VFR conditions well before he entered controlled airspace at 700 AGL.
Once he was above the clouds in Class G airspace all he needed for VFR
operations was one mile visibility and stay clear of clouds.