PA28-151 flew into ecg class D without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	362880
Time
Date	199703
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ecg
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2300 msl bound upper : 2300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc tower : ecg tower : lax
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 425 flight time type : 425
ASRS Report	362880
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flying VFR from mqi to chs, decided to use IFR charts to avoid restr airspace. Called ZDC for flight following and told him I was going to elizabeth city VORTAC at 2300 ft and would turn out on a 250 degree radial (V472). He later told me to contact norfolk approach for flight following as his radar was not covering well in that area. Upon calling norfolk and reiterating my intentions, they told me to contact ZDC instead. Went through the same sequence with center, and they again sent me to approach, who told me they couldn't provide service at my altitude. I then got out my sectional and discovered I was in elizabeth city class D airspace (but didn't have the tower frequency handy). I quickly turned out and got on V472. I should have used sectional as primary reference and called the tower, not assuming center or approach would.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28-151 FLEW INTO ECG CLASS D WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: FLYING VFR FROM MQI TO CHS, DECIDED TO USE IFR CHARTS TO AVOID RESTR AIRSPACE. CALLED ZDC FOR FLT FOLLOWING AND TOLD HIM I WAS GOING TO ELIZABETH CITY VORTAC AT 2300 FT AND WOULD TURN OUT ON A 250 DEG RADIAL (V472). HE LATER TOLD ME TO CONTACT NORFOLK APCH FOR FLT FOLLOWING AS HIS RADAR WAS NOT COVERING WELL IN THAT AREA. UPON CALLING NORFOLK AND REITERATING MY INTENTIONS, THEY TOLD ME TO CONTACT ZDC INSTEAD. WENT THROUGH THE SAME SEQUENCE WITH CTR, AND THEY AGAIN SENT ME TO APCH, WHO TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T PROVIDE SVC AT MY ALT. I THEN GOT OUT MY SECTIONAL AND DISCOVERED I WAS IN ELIZABETH CITY CLASS D AIRSPACE (BUT DIDN'T HAVE THE TWR FREQ HANDY). I QUICKLY TURNED OUT AND GOT ON V472. I SHOULD HAVE USED SECTIONAL AS PRIMARY REF AND CALLED THE TWR, NOT ASSUMING CTR OR APCH WOULD.

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.