00:30 Drone Caught Flying Illegally in Park A photographer captured a picture of a drone flying illegally in a national park in Hawaii.

At a Glance An outdoor photographer captured an incredible photo of a drone's illegal flight past a fire hose in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

The use of unmanned aircraft such as drones was prohibited by the National Park Service in June 2014.

A temporary ban issued on flying unmanned aircraft in national parks has a maximum penalty of a $5,000 and six months in jail. It was a once-in-a-lifetime photo: a drone was taking an illegal flight near a massive "fire hose" as it spewed lava in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Outdoor photographer Andrew Studer was at the park May 1 when he spotted the tiny unmanned aircraft hovering near the hose. Studer told weather.com he was photographing the hose, which happens when lava comes from an underground tube and enters the ocean. He also said he was more than 2,600 feet from the hose when he witnessed the scene.

In addition to being illegal, the drone's flight was hazardous.

<img class="styles__noscript__2rw2y" src="https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/18194118_10202820520231744_3812035110213028346_n.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0" srcset="https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/18194118_10202820520231744_3812035110213028346_n.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0 400w, https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/18194118_10202820520231744_3812035110213028346_n.jpg?v=ap&w=980&h=551&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0 800w" > A drone makes an illegal flight past a firehose in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on May 1, 2017. (Courtesy of Andrew Studer ) (Courtesy of Andrew Studer )

"When the lava makes contact with the water, it hardens quickly and chunks of rock shoot up every couple of seconds," said Studer.

(MORE: Thousands of Lightning Strikes From Space )

In June 2014, National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis signed a policy that made the use of drones and other unmanned aircraft illegal in national parks .

"As unmanned aircraft have become more affordable and easier to operate, they have begun to appear in some park areas," states the policy. "Although their use remains relatively infrequent across the National Park System, this new use has the potential to cause unacceptable impacts such as harming visitors, interfering with rescue operations, causing excessive noise, impacting viewsheds, and disturbing wildlife."

NPS highlighted several incidents involving such aircraft, including one at Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park in April 2014 in which a park visitor lost control of the drone and crashed it into the canyon.

Launching, operating or landing an unmanned aircraft in lands or waters within NPS boundaries is prohibited, except when approved in writing by that park’s superintendent, according to the policy.

A temporary ban issued on flying unmanned aircraft in national parks has a maximum penalty of a $5,000 and six months of jail time , according to a 2016 Los Angeles Times report.

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Best of Dronestagram 2016