FAR 91.119 — Minimum Safe Altitudes
FAR 91.119 sets the minimum safe altitudes for flight: 1,000 ft over congested areas, 500 ft elsewhere, and emergency-landing clearance everywhere.
FAR 91.119 sets the floor for how low you can legally fly. Except when taking off or landing, you must always be high enough that, if your engine quits, you can make an emergency landing without undue hazard to people or property below.
On top of that baseline, specific minimums apply:
- Congested areas (cities, towns, settlements, or open-air assemblies of people): at least 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a 2,000-foot horizontal radius of the aircraft.
- Other than congested areas: at least 500 feet above the surface.
- Open water or sparsely populated areas: no specific altitude floor, but you may not operate closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.
Helicopters may operate below these minimums if done without hazard and in compliance with any FAA-prescribed helicopter routes or altitudes. Powered parachutes and weight-shift-control aircraft may operate below the 500-foot minimum if done without hazard.
This rule matters operationally because it protects people on the ground and gives you altitude to glide to a safe landing site if the engine fails — a constant consideration during cross-countries and maneuvers.