On Feb 27, 12:02 pm, "gatt" wrote:
My first instructor liked to have me practice emergency landings over rural
Oregon. Although we observed basic airspace rules, we'd get down below
treetop levels, short final, maybe 100' or less before go around. Once, I
could see the startled expression on a farmer's face as he watched us. On a
couple of occasions, I thought we were actually going to land. Birds took
flight, etc. Subsequent instructors and examiners always called it "good"
well above that so we never got that low.

My question is, what would you say the lowest appropriate height AGL for
teaching student pilots about off-field emergency landings in, say, a C-152,
given the 500' rule? (We -definately- busted that in the case of the
farmer. The instructor even said so.)

-c
CP-ASEL-IA, CFI student

I am fortunate enough to fly where there are designated low flying
zones. They are only used for a maximum of two aircraft conducting
dual training. The instructor decides how low you may fly depending on
your ability and the weather conditions. The local land owners all
agreed to it and although we make every effort to avoid buzzing their
stock most of the time they (the cows that is) are so used to low
flying planes they don't even bat an eyelid at you when you fly past.
As for how low have I gone, I'd say about 4-5 feet before the
instructor told me to go around. By that time I was ready to land
alright!