Other RPIC
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 10; Flight Crew Total 22; Flight Crew Type 22
Situational Awareness
Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure
While flying my UAS along the shore. I experienced a near miss with a low flying aircraft. I was taking pictures of the surf and cliffs for my photography portfolio. I was flying a UAS. I launched from the parking area overlooking the beach; altitude about 71ft MSL. Visibility was reported as greater than 10 NM; winds less than 4 MPH. Although visibility along the beach was unlimited to the South; [it was] about .9 Miles to the North. I had completed filming and had instituted the automated Return-To-Home procedure. In this mode the aircraft climbs to its designated RTH altitude and autonomously flies back and lands at its launch or 'Home' point. Although on autopilot the aircraft still responds to the controls. At this point; I observed and heard an aircraft flying low (a little above the top of the bluff which at that point is 71ft MSL) along the beach that had come from the North around the point. My first reaction was to dive the drone and I started to descend but I realized that it was already above the level of the approaching aircraft so I reversed throttle and continued the climb to evade. The aircraft passed below the drone which was at about 244ft MSL altitude and between the drone and I. The aircraft was a low-wing; single-engine; monoplane; dark in color. The pilot gave no indication that he saw the UAS and continued flying South along the beach. Although the sectional charts list the Minimum Safe Altitude in the area at over 1;000 ft; aircraft sometimes fly along the beach because it is very scenic with the ocean view stretching out to the horizon. This also creates the illusion that other aircraft can be seen well in time to be avoided. But the coast is not a straight line and aircraft skimming the bluffs over the beach are masked by bluffs at points along the coast. In this case the bluff [at the] point only .9 mile away masked the aircraft from my view and vice versa and it was in my flight space with almost no time to react. Pilots should expect to encounter [UAS]. FAA should remind pilots that even if visibility is unlimited; small drones can only be seen at best a mile away and they should avoid tracing the beach contour even if visual flight rules allow it.
UAS Operator reported a NMAC with an unidentified small aircraft in VMC at low altitude over coastal bluffs.