Small aircraft penetrates restricted area without clearance because not active.

Attributes
ACN	203453
Time
Date	199203
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : vwv
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4500 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 54 flight time total : 1650 flight time type : 20
ASRS Report	203453
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On flight from sandusky, oh to detroit, mi (yip), followed coast. Asked ZOB if R5502A and B were active. They said 'no, not active.' followed coastline to mi. Possible penetration into restr area. Question raised to a few local professional pilots who couldn't answer if restr airspace is not active, does it still exist? Does one still need permission to go through it, even if it has been verified by controling agency that it was not active? We aren't sure. If this could be addressed in ASRS newsletter, we'd appreciate it.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PENETRATES RESTRICTED AREA WITHOUT CLRNC BECAUSE NOT ACTIVE.

Narrative: ON FLT FROM SANDUSKY, OH TO DETROIT, MI (YIP), FOLLOWED COAST. ASKED ZOB IF R5502A AND B WERE ACTIVE. THEY SAID 'NO, NOT ACTIVE.' FOLLOWED COASTLINE TO MI. POSSIBLE PENETRATION INTO RESTR AREA. QUESTION RAISED TO A FEW LCL PROFESSIONAL PLTS WHO COULDN'T ANSWER IF RESTR AIRSPACE IS NOT ACTIVE, DOES IT STILL EXIST? DOES ONE STILL NEED PERMISSION TO GO THROUGH IT, EVEN IF IT HAS BEEN VERIFIED BY CTLING AGENCY THAT IT WAS NOT ACTIVE? WE AREN'T SURE. IF THIS COULD BE ADDRESSED IN ASRS NEWSLETTER, WE'D APPRECIATE IT.

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.