Unauthorized penetration of airspace. Proximity of control zone.

Attributes
ACN	202827
Time
Date	199202
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : coe
State Reference	ID
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3100 msl bound upper : 3100
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : coe
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 150
ASRS Report	202827
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	other personnel
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I departed felts field in spokane on a VFR flight to coe. Before departing, I failed to check with WX service for WX conditions at coeur D'alene airport. I began calling the coe tower on 119.1 about 5 mi west of the field but was unable to get a response. My altitude was 3100 MSL and visibility good. After repeated attempts to raise anyone on either 119.1 or 122.8 I entered a VFR downwind approach announcing my intentions on 119.1 and 122.8. As I was turning right base for runway 1 I noticed an light transport airliner on final for the same runway. I then proceeded with a go around well clear and to the right of the approach to runway 1. I was then able to get someone on 122.8 who advised me that the airport was showing an 800 ft ceiling and was under IFR conditions. I immediately departed the area and returned to felts field for landing. I inadvertently entered controled IFR airspace while flying VFR. I had not checked with WX service in advance nor had I listed to the local AWOS on 135.075. The visibility was good and the ceiling appeared adequate so I did not expect IFR conditions at coe.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNAUTHORIZED PENETRATION OF AIRSPACE. PROX OF CTL ZONE.

Narrative: I DEPARTED FELTS FIELD IN SPOKANE ON A VFR FLT TO COE. BEFORE DEPARTING, I FAILED TO CHK WITH WX SVC FOR WX CONDITIONS AT COEUR D'ALENE ARPT. I BEGAN CALLING THE COE TWR ON 119.1 ABOUT 5 MI W OF THE FIELD BUT WAS UNABLE TO GET A RESPONSE. MY ALT WAS 3100 MSL AND VISIBILITY GOOD. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO RAISE ANYONE ON EITHER 119.1 OR 122.8 I ENTERED A VFR DOWNWIND APCH ANNOUNCING MY INTENTIONS ON 119.1 AND 122.8. AS I WAS TURNING R BASE FOR RWY 1 I NOTICED AN LTT AIRLINER ON FINAL FOR THE SAME RWY. I THEN PROCEEDED WITH A GAR WELL CLR AND TO THE R OF THE APCH TO RWY 1. I WAS THEN ABLE TO GET SOMEONE ON 122.8 WHO ADVISED ME THAT THE ARPT WAS SHOWING AN 800 FT CEILING AND WAS UNDER IFR CONDITIONS. I IMMEDIATELY DEPARTED THE AREA AND RETURNED TO FELTS FIELD FOR LNDG. I INADVERTENTLY ENTERED CTLED IFR AIRSPACE WHILE FLYING VFR. I HAD NOT CHKED WITH WX SVC IN ADVANCE NOR HAD I LISTED TO THE LCL AWOS ON 135.075. THE VISIBILITY WAS GOOD AND THE CEILING APPEARED ADEQUATE SO I DID NOT EXPECT IFR CONDITIONS AT COE.

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.