Reporter pilot had difficulty tuning an NDB frequency plus had problems with the proper tower freque...

Attributes
ACN	334818
Time
Date	199605
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : yhm
State Reference	ON
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : yhm
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee Arrow IV
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 : 36 flight time total : 600 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	334818
Person 2
Affiliation	government other
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departed waterloo/wellington airport, frequency 126.0. Became distracted by trying to tune in NDB (hamilton) and navigation as becoming dark and fog (ground) in places. Switched frequencys, made call to hamilton (no reply) 125.0. Unable to tune in hamilton NDB. Visual estimation clear of hamilton control zone. Proceeded to tune in buf VOR approximately 110-120 degree radial to navigation on this radial. 5-10 mi northwest of st catherines, changed frequency to buf approach. Made call, told buf position 5-10 mi northwest of st catherines. Informed hamilton tower trying to contact me. Changed frequency to hamilton tower. Hamilton tower informed me that I had flown through their class D airspace at 2500 ft. Stated I had made call and had no reply. Hamilton tower suggested I had tuned in incorrect frequency 126.0 instead of 125.0, agreed this was possibility. Apologized for action. Hamilton tower stated that I was approaching st catherines and that I should call them. Switched frequencys, informed st catherines of position -- acknowledged. Switched frequencys to buf approach, acknowledged proceeding, thence to niagara falls where I landed to clear customs. (Waited 1 1/2 hours for immigration official as canadian auths had not informed them I was coming.) arrived royalton.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR PLT HAD DIFFICULTY TUNING AN NDB FREQ PLUS HAD PROBS WITH THE PROPER TWR FREQ AND INADVERTENTLY FLEW INTO CLASS D AIRSPACE WITHOUT COM. THE CLASS D TWR CONTACTED RPTR THROUGH ANOTHER ATC FACILITY AND RPTR MADE CONTACT ON APPROPRIATE FREQ.

Narrative: DEPARTED WATERLOO/WELLINGTON ARPT, FREQ 126.0. BECAME DISTRACTED BY TRYING TO TUNE IN NDB (HAMILTON) AND NAV AS BECOMING DARK AND FOG (GND) IN PLACES. SWITCHED FREQS, MADE CALL TO HAMILTON (NO REPLY) 125.0. UNABLE TO TUNE IN HAMILTON NDB. VISUAL ESTIMATION CLR OF HAMILTON CTL ZONE. PROCEEDED TO TUNE IN BUF VOR APPROX 110-120 DEG RADIAL TO NAV ON THIS RADIAL. 5-10 MI NW OF ST CATHERINES, CHANGED FREQ TO BUF APCH. MADE CALL, TOLD BUF POS 5-10 MI NW OF ST CATHERINES. INFORMED HAMILTON TWR TRYING TO CONTACT ME. CHANGED FREQ TO HAMILTON TWR. HAMILTON TWR INFORMED ME THAT I HAD FLOWN THROUGH THEIR CLASS D AIRSPACE AT 2500 FT. STATED I HAD MADE CALL AND HAD NO REPLY. HAMILTON TWR SUGGESTED I HAD TUNED IN INCORRECT FREQ 126.0 INSTEAD OF 125.0, AGREED THIS WAS POSSIBILITY. APOLOGIZED FOR ACTION. HAMILTON TWR STATED THAT I WAS APCHING ST CATHERINES AND THAT I SHOULD CALL THEM. SWITCHED FREQS, INFORMED ST CATHERINES OF POS -- ACKNOWLEDGED. SWITCHED FREQS TO BUF APCH, ACKNOWLEDGED PROCEEDING, THENCE TO NIAGARA FALLS WHERE I LANDED TO CLR CUSTOMS. (WAITED 1 1/2 HRS FOR IMMIGRATION OFFICIAL AS CANADIAN AUTHS HAD NOT INFORMED THEM I WAS COMING.) ARRIVED ROYALTON.

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.

Reporter pilot had difficulty tuning an NDB frequency plus had problems with the proper tower frequency and inadvertently flew into class D airspace without communication. The class D tower contacted reporter through another ATC facility and reporter made contact on appropriate frequency.