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.

Google
 

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.