Small aircraft pilot on cross-country flight penetrates restricted area.

Attributes
ACN	154158
Time
Date	199008
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fxu
State Reference	LA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7500 msl bound upper : 7500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zhu
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 39 flight time total : 761 flight time type : 701
ASRS Report	154158
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After planning and plotting on sectional a long x-country flight, a search was made for airspace conflicts. The flight out and the flight back were both planned to avoid R-3806. During the flight, ATC (houston center) was contacted to verify R-3801A, B and C were active from the surface to 7000' MSL, only. During this time, I realized I had just flown east through R-3804A at 7500' MSL. R-3804A was active to FL180. No comments were made by houston center and I did not volunteer a confession. In seven plus yrs of flying, I have always prided myself on my preplanning. This infraction is a very serious matter to me and has bothered me significantly since it occurred. I believe the main contributing factor was how well the R-3804A markings blended into the other clutter on that part of the sectional. Doublechking isn't enough. I will be triplechking from now on.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT ON CROSS-COUNTRY FLT PENETRATES RESTRICTED AREA.

Narrative: AFTER PLANNING AND PLOTTING ON SECTIONAL A LONG X-COUNTRY FLT, A SEARCH WAS MADE FOR AIRSPACE CONFLICTS. THE FLT OUT AND THE FLT BACK WERE BOTH PLANNED TO AVOID R-3806. DURING THE FLT, ATC (HOUSTON CTR) WAS CONTACTED TO VERIFY R-3801A, B AND C WERE ACTIVE FROM THE SURFACE TO 7000' MSL, ONLY. DURING THIS TIME, I REALIZED I HAD JUST FLOWN E THROUGH R-3804A AT 7500' MSL. R-3804A WAS ACTIVE TO FL180. NO COMMENTS WERE MADE BY HOUSTON CTR AND I DID NOT VOLUNTEER A CONFESSION. IN SEVEN PLUS YRS OF FLYING, I HAVE ALWAYS PRIDED MYSELF ON MY PREPLANNING. THIS INFRACTION IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER TO ME AND HAS BOTHERED ME SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE IT OCCURRED. I BELIEVE THE MAIN CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS HOW WELL THE R-3804A MARKINGS BLENDED INTO THE OTHER CLUTTER ON THAT PART OF THE SECTIONAL. DOUBLECHKING ISN'T ENOUGH. I WILL BE TRIPLECHKING FROM NOW ON.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.