Pilot of small aircraft inadvertently entered hilton head air traffic area unaware a tower was in op...

Attributes
ACN	126498
Time
Date	198910
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 49j
State Reference	SC
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : 49j
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 110 flight time type : 18
ASRS Report	126498
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I flew up port royal sound to the coast, passing within 5 mi east of hilton head, sc (49J), shown on the chart as uncontrolled. I was monitoring 49J unicom and hearing traffic reports, though not reporting myself. The time was slightly before XX00 local. I later decided to land at 49J, which I had not originally planned. I consulted a current sectional and airport guide for pertinent information. I called unicom for an advisory. Received a reply about 4 mi out telling me a control tower was in effect. I contacted tower and received landing clearance. Local time was approximately XX10. After landing, I saw signs posted at the FBO stating a control tower would be in effect from XX00 10/sun/89 to 10/sun/89. I did not check with an FSS before I left 73J, since I was staying local and did not originally plan to go into 49J. Any problem could have been avoided had I done this.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMA INADVERTENTLY ENTERED HILTON HEAD ATA UNAWARE A TWR WAS IN OPERATION.

Narrative: I FLEW UP PORT ROYAL SOUND TO THE COAST, PASSING WITHIN 5 MI E OF HILTON HEAD, SC (49J), SHOWN ON THE CHART AS UNCONTROLLED. I WAS MONITORING 49J UNICOM AND HEARING TFC RPTS, THOUGH NOT RPTING MYSELF. THE TIME WAS SLIGHTLY BEFORE XX00 LCL. I LATER DECIDED TO LAND AT 49J, WHICH I HAD NOT ORIGINALLY PLANNED. I CONSULTED A CURRENT SECTIONAL AND ARPT GUIDE FOR PERTINENT INFO. I CALLED UNICOM FOR AN ADVISORY. RECEIVED A REPLY ABOUT 4 MI OUT TELLING ME A CTL TWR WAS IN EFFECT. I CONTACTED TWR AND RECEIVED LNDG CLRNC. LCL TIME WAS APPROX XX10. AFTER LNDG, I SAW SIGNS POSTED AT THE FBO STATING A CTL TWR WOULD BE IN EFFECT FROM XX00 10/SUN/89 TO 10/SUN/89. I DID NOT CHK WITH AN FSS BEFORE I LEFT 73J, SINCE I WAS STAYING LCL AND DID NOT ORIGINALLY PLAN TO GO INTO 49J. ANY PROB COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED HAD I DONE THIS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Pilot of small aircraft inadvertently entered hilton head air traffic area unaware a tower was in operation.