Small aircraft enters class D airspace without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	313550
Time
Date	199508
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : btl
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : azo
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 2300 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	313550
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
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 flew a PA 200/right VFR cross country crossing kalamazoo, and battle creek airspace. Lowering ceilings prevented me from climbing to desired altitude of 6500 ft. This was the first indication of a problem because I was required to cross through class D airspace and report. This was done at jxn, with no problem. But for some reason I naved toward battle creek VOR instead of kalamazoo VORTAC. The sectional is quite cluttered in this area and I missed the fact that these were 2 separate vors, 109.4 btl, and 109.0 azo. I was talking to approach azo while tracking to btl. I believe I crossed into class D with no report at 3000 ft MSL. A better preflight on a cross country would have found this problem earlier and prevented it and an alternate flight plan with low altitude procedures.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA ENTERS CLASS D AIRSPACE WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: I FLEW A PA 200/R VFR XCOUNTRY XING KALAMAZOO, AND BATTLE CREEK AIRSPACE. LOWERING CEILINGS PREVENTED ME FROM CLBING TO DESIRED ALT OF 6500 FT. THIS WAS THE FIRST INDICATION OF A PROB BECAUSE I WAS REQUIRED TO CROSS THROUGH CLASS D AIRSPACE AND RPT. THIS WAS DONE AT JXN, WITH NO PROB. BUT FOR SOME REASON I NAVED TOWARD BATTLE CREEK VOR INSTEAD OF KALAMAZOO VORTAC. THE SECTIONAL IS QUITE CLUTTERED IN THIS AREA AND I MISSED THE FACT THAT THESE WERE 2 SEPARATE VORS, 109.4 BTL, AND 109.0 AZO. I WAS TALKING TO APCH AZO WHILE TRACKING TO BTL. I BELIEVE I CROSSED INTO CLASS D WITH NO RPT AT 3000 FT MSL. A BETTER PREFLT ON A XCOUNTRY WOULD HAVE FOUND THIS PROB EARLIER AND PREVENTED IT AND AN ALTERNATE FLT PLAN WITH LOW ALT PROCS.

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.