Originally Posted by
aa777888
Assuming (my assumption, this time) that FlightAware altitude data is MSL, it would certainly appear that this helicopter was quite low, given that KSSF field elevation is 577ft. This puts them only 700 or 800 AGL for much of the flight, and the last few minutes in particular. KSAT is at 809ft MSL.
Further researching my assumption, it is not entirely correct. The FlightAware altitude data is the raw encoder output and therefore referenced to an altimeter setting of 29.92. The weather at KSSF at the time of the incident was:
METAR KSSF 142253Z 13005KT 10SM CLR 26/07 A2970 RMK AO2 SLP055 T02610067=
Doing the pressure altitude conversion, it would then seem that the bulk of that flight was at approx. 1500ft MSL, or about 900 AGL, give or take. Still pretty low, but I just felt like that "i" needed to be dotted.