Narrative:

WX quickly deteriorating due to approaching cold front. Winds at altitude were 49 KTS and visibility reduced due to haze. I called for local WX brief just before departure and was advised of forecast which was 2500 ft scattered, chance 2500 ft broken. I was showing sights to a new flier and on my way towards hudson river. At 1500 ft orientation of landmarks became difficult, ceiling was 2000 ft overcast. I was heading about 120 degrees when I looked ahead and noticed an airport, I quickly confirmed identify of field with my terminal chart. I immediately turned left to 270 degrees to head away from field. With the haze it was difficult in judging distance to field (teb airport). I continued the flight and later found out from newark tower that the aircraft's mode C was inoperative when I was cleared into their class B airspace about 40 mins later. I've only flown out of caldwell airport once before and should have been more familiar with the local landmarks surrounding the area at lower altitudes. I also should have contacted teb airport or verified distance with DME. I was in an instrument C172 but never noticed a DME in the aircraft. I also should have filed an IFR flight plan towards the hudson river and continued visually for sight-seeing tour. I could have canceled IFR flight plan when over the river. This would have cleared me through all surrounding airspace. I was not contacted by anyone after landing back at caldwell airport. I am not positive I violated teb's airspace and am filing this report as a cautionary measure.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 GOT CLOSE TO AND MAY HAVE ENTERED TEB CLASS D AIRSPACE.

Narrative: WX QUICKLY DETERIORATING DUE TO APCHING COLD FRONT. WINDS AT ALT WERE 49 KTS AND VISIBILITY REDUCED DUE TO HAZE. I CALLED FOR LCL WX BRIEF JUST BEFORE DEP AND WAS ADVISED OF FORECAST WHICH WAS 2500 FT SCATTERED, CHANCE 2500 FT BROKEN. I WAS SHOWING SIGHTS TO A NEW FLIER AND ON MY WAY TOWARDS HUDSON RIVER. AT 1500 FT ORIENTATION OF LANDMARKS BECAME DIFFICULT, CEILING WAS 2000 FT OVCST. I WAS HEADING ABOUT 120 DEGS WHEN I LOOKED AHEAD AND NOTICED AN ARPT, I QUICKLY CONFIRMED IDENT OF FIELD WITH MY TERMINAL CHART. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED L TO 270 DEGS TO HEAD AWAY FROM FIELD. WITH THE HAZE IT WAS DIFFICULT IN JUDGING DISTANCE TO FIELD (TEB ARPT). I CONTINUED THE FLT AND LATER FOUND OUT FROM NEWARK TWR THAT THE ACFT'S MODE C WAS INOP WHEN I WAS CLRED INTO THEIR CLASS B AIRSPACE ABOUT 40 MINS LATER. I'VE ONLY FLOWN OUT OF CALDWELL ARPT ONCE BEFORE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE LCL LANDMARKS SURROUNDING THE AREA AT LOWER ALTS. I ALSO SHOULD HAVE CONTACTED TEB ARPT OR VERIFIED DISTANCE WITH DME. I WAS IN AN INST C172 BUT NEVER NOTICED A DME IN THE ACFT. I ALSO SHOULD HAVE FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN TOWARDS THE HUDSON RIVER AND CONTINUED VISUALLY FOR SIGHT-SEEING TOUR. I COULD HAVE CANCELED IFR FLT PLAN WHEN OVER THE RIVER. THIS WOULD HAVE CLRED ME THROUGH ALL SURROUNDING AIRSPACE. I WAS NOT CONTACTED BY ANYONE AFTER LNDG BACK AT CALDWELL ARPT. I AM NOT POSITIVE I VIOLATED TEB'S AIRSPACE AND AM FILING THIS RPT AS A CAUTIONARY MEASURE.

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.