Narrative:

I was en route VFR from 1b2 to baf. Prior to the trip, my friend (a cfii) who I was going to pick up at baf (after dropping off his airplane) went over the route of flight with me, and made it very clear to avoid cef and not mistake it for baf. While en route at 4500 ft MSL, I was talking with bradly approach. They then told me to squawk 1200 and call baf tower, which I did, after descending to 2000 ft (pattern is 1271 ft MSL). I carefully avoided cef, but due to my altitude was unable to see baf and mistook bdl for baf. After the tower told me to head north and climb, I made a successful landing at baf. I was instructed to call bradly approach on the phone. Controller told me I was 8 mi east of bdl and should be violated, etc. I told him it was an honest mistake and I corrected it when made aware of it. After a discussion, he said he would not report me. I plan to get some dual instruction in cross country procedures and pilotage. By the way, at 2000 ft MSL and 8 NM, I was clearly outside of class C airspace. The aim PAR 3.2.4. Puts the core dimension at 5 NM radius from sfc to 4000 ft above airport elevation and a 10 NM radius shelf from 1200-4000 ft AGL. At 8 NM out, I was below the 2000 ft MSL floor and 5 NM radius depicted on the ny sectional.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PVT PLT OF A CESSNA 172 INADVERTENTLY PENETRATED CLASS C AIRSPACE ENRTE TO ANOTHER NEARBY ARPT.

Narrative: I WAS ENRTE VFR FROM 1B2 TO BAF. PRIOR TO THE TRIP, MY FRIEND (A CFII) WHO I WAS GOING TO PICK UP AT BAF (AFTER DROPPING OFF HIS AIRPLANE) WENT OVER THE RTE OF FLT WITH ME, AND MADE IT VERY CLR TO AVOID CEF AND NOT MISTAKE IT FOR BAF. WHILE ENRTE AT 4500 FT MSL, I WAS TALKING WITH BRADLY APCH. THEY THEN TOLD ME TO SQUAWK 1200 AND CALL BAF TWR, WHICH I DID, AFTER DSNDING TO 2000 FT (PATTERN IS 1271 FT MSL). I CAREFULLY AVOIDED CEF, BUT DUE TO MY ALT WAS UNABLE TO SEE BAF AND MISTOOK BDL FOR BAF. AFTER THE TWR TOLD ME TO HEAD N AND CLB, I MADE A SUCCESSFUL LNDG AT BAF. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO CALL BRADLY APCH ON THE PHONE. CTLR TOLD ME I WAS 8 MI E OF BDL AND SHOULD BE VIOLATED, ETC. I TOLD HIM IT WAS AN HONEST MISTAKE AND I CORRECTED IT WHEN MADE AWARE OF IT. AFTER A DISCUSSION, HE SAID HE WOULD NOT RPT ME. I PLAN TO GET SOME DUAL INSTRUCTION IN XCOUNTRY PROCS AND PILOTAGE. BY THE WAY, AT 2000 FT MSL AND 8 NM, I WAS CLRLY OUTSIDE OF CLASS C AIRSPACE. THE AIM PAR 3.2.4. PUTS THE CORE DIMENSION AT 5 NM RADIUS FROM SFC TO 4000 FT ABOVE ARPT ELEVATION AND A 10 NM RADIUS SHELF FROM 1200-4000 FT AGL. AT 8 NM OUT, I WAS BELOW THE 2000 FT MSL FLOOR AND 5 NM RADIUS DEPICTED ON THE NY SECTIONAL.

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.