A low time pilot may have penetrated class D airspace without calling the ATCT.

Attributes
ACN	312990
Time
Date	199508
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : tiw
State Reference	WA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zse
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
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 : 20 flight time total : 78 flight time type : 70
ASRS Report	312990
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was on a VFR flight for the purpose of cross country training. I was making use of VFR flight following from ZSE. There were many targets being called out as I passed north of olympia (olm) and ZSE was keeping me very busy. I was also dealing with some mild to moderate turbulence as I attempted to stay on planned course by both pilotage and dead reckoning. Tiw airspace extends to 2800 ft MSL and the floor of seattle starts at 3000 ft MSL. I did not contact tiw tower because I planned to transition tiw class D at 2900 ft MSL. In such transition, due to workload, I may have entered the tiw airspace inadvertently, through lack of altitude control. I did not know this at the time and only suspected it upon my review of my cross country flight the following day. I am not positive of my altitude, though I suspect that, I may have either crossed tiw as low as 2600 ft MSL or started my descent too early and 'clipped' tiw as I left. During this entire time I was in contact with ZSE. I have determined that I must not rely on flight planning alone and realize that other factors may cause me to deviate from my plan (in this case, other traffic in the area). I must be ready to leave the 'safety' of VFR flight following to ensure I contact controllers at airspace I may enter.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A LOW TIME PLT MAY HAVE PENETRATED CLASS D AIRSPACE WITHOUT CALLING THE ATCT.

Narrative: I WAS ON A VFR FLT FOR THE PURPOSE OF XCOUNTRY TRAINING. I WAS MAKING USE OF VFR FLT FOLLOWING FROM ZSE. THERE WERE MANY TARGETS BEING CALLED OUT AS I PASSED N OF OLYMPIA (OLM) AND ZSE WAS KEEPING ME VERY BUSY. I WAS ALSO DEALING WITH SOME MILD TO MODERATE TURB AS I ATTEMPTED TO STAY ON PLANNED COURSE BY BOTH PILOTAGE AND DEAD RECKONING. TIW AIRSPACE EXTENDS TO 2800 FT MSL AND THE FLOOR OF SEATTLE STARTS AT 3000 FT MSL. I DID NOT CONTACT TIW TWR BECAUSE I PLANNED TO TRANSITION TIW CLASS D AT 2900 FT MSL. IN SUCH TRANSITION, DUE TO WORKLOAD, I MAY HAVE ENTERED THE TIW AIRSPACE INADVERTENTLY, THROUGH LACK OF ALT CTL. I DID NOT KNOW THIS AT THE TIME AND ONLY SUSPECTED IT UPON MY REVIEW OF MY XCOUNTRY FLT THE FOLLOWING DAY. I AM NOT POSITIVE OF MY ALT, THOUGH I SUSPECT THAT, I MAY HAVE EITHER CROSSED TIW AS LOW AS 2600 FT MSL OR STARTED MY DSCNT TOO EARLY AND 'CLIPPED' TIW AS I LEFT. DURING THIS ENTIRE TIME I WAS IN CONTACT WITH ZSE. I HAVE DETERMINED THAT I MUST NOT RELY ON FLT PLANNING ALONE AND REALIZE THAT OTHER FACTORS MAY CAUSE ME TO DEVIATE FROM MY PLAN (IN THIS CASE, OTHER TFC IN THE AREA). I MUST BE READY TO LEAVE THE 'SAFETY' OF VFR FLT FOLLOWING TO ENSURE I CONTACT CTLRS AT AIRSPACE I MAY ENTER.

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.