GA small aircraft pilot inadvertently penetrates gsp arsa.

Attributes
ACN	163468
Time
Date	199011
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : gmu
State Reference	SC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4400 msl bound upper : 4400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : gsp tower : gmu
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 12 flight time total : 1880 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	163468
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I penetrated an arsa west/O having contacted approach control. I was landing at gmu, a controled field under a 3100' arsa floor and a 5000' arsa ceiling. I was in contact with the gmu tower who called to request that I say 'altitude'. I had a mode C on, and I correctly told the tower that I was passing through 4400'. It was only later that I realized that I was at the arsa boundary when I was told to say altitude and I was trespassing on the 50/31 arsa layer. Though nothing further was mentioned by the tower about my altitude, the problem was caused by my failure to perceive that the mountain I was overflying is on an arsa boundary and by my failure to contact gmu approach control. What can be done to prevent a recurrence? Vigilance must be increased.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA PLT INADVERTENTLY PENETRATES GSP ARSA.

Narrative: I PENETRATED AN ARSA W/O HAVING CONTACTED APCH CTL. I WAS LNDG AT GMU, A CTLED FIELD UNDER A 3100' ARSA FLOOR AND A 5000' ARSA CEILING. I WAS IN CONTACT WITH THE GMU TWR WHO CALLED TO REQUEST THAT I SAY 'ALT'. I HAD A MODE C ON, AND I CORRECTLY TOLD THE TWR THAT I WAS PASSING THROUGH 4400'. IT WAS ONLY LATER THAT I REALIZED THAT I WAS AT THE ARSA BOUNDARY WHEN I WAS TOLD TO SAY ALT AND I WAS TRESPASSING ON THE 50/31 ARSA LAYER. THOUGH NOTHING FURTHER WAS MENTIONED BY THE TWR ABOUT MY ALT, THE PROB WAS CAUSED BY MY FAILURE TO PERCEIVE THAT THE MOUNTAIN I WAS OVERFLYING IS ON AN ARSA BOUNDARY AND BY MY FAILURE TO CONTACT GMU APCH CTL. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT A RECURRENCE? VIGILANCE MUST BE INCREASED.

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.