A private pilot is flying VFR at 9,500 feet MSL over a mountainous area where the terrain elevation is 6,000 feet MSL. The flight is conducted within Class G airspace during the day. What are the minimum flight visibility and cloud clearance requirements?

Correct answer: A. 5 statute miles visibility, 1,000 feet below, 1,000 feet above, 1 statute mile horizontal from clouds.

Class G airspace VFR minimums vary with altitude and time of day. Above 10,000 feet MSL, the minimums are 5 SM visibility, 1,000 feet below, 1,000 feet above, and 1 SM horizontal. Although the aircraft is at 9,500 feet MSL, the critical factor is 'above 1,200 feet AGL and at or above 10,000 feet MSL' or 'above 1,200 feet AGL and below 10,000 feet MSL'. Since the terrain is 6,000 feet MSL, the aircraft is at 3,500 feet AGL (9,500 - 6,000 = 3,500). Being above 1,200 feet AGL and below 10,000 feet MSL, the minimums are 1 SM visibility, 1,000 feet below, 1,000 feet above, and 1 SM horizontal (Option D). However, the question states 'above a mountainous area', which implicitly means above 1,200 feet AGL. The option C is for Class E above 10,000 MSL, and Option D for Class E below 10,000 MSL. Re-evaluating the question, it's asking for Class G, Day. At 9,500 MSL over 6,000 MSL terrain, the AGL is 3,500ft. So it's Class G, Day, above 1,200ft AGL. The correct minimums for Class G, Day, above 1,200ft AGL and below 10,000ft MSL are 1 SM visibility, 1,000 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 1 SM horizontal. Option D matches this. Let's re-examine C to ensure it's not a trick. Option C is 5 SM vis, 1000' below/above, 1 SM horizontal. This is for Class E, above 10,000 MSL. Option D is 1 SM vis, 1000' below/above, 1 SM horizontal. This is for Class G, Day, above 1,200' AGL AND below 10,000' MSL. Given 9,500 MSL and 6,000 MSL terrain, the AGL is 3,500ft, which is above 1,200ft AGL. So D is the correct answer. The initial answer key was incorrect for this explanation. The correct answer should be D.