Narrative:

Entered bur class C inadvertently. Was using new GPS hand-held and having trouble with it. Should have used vors as backup to prevent incursion. Lack of ground reference was a problem also -- all the more reason for a backup. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter states this is a very difficult area in which to operate with the proximity of lax class B and bur class B airspace. He would normally have used the lax VOR as his NAVAID check but was trying to learn the GPS hand-held operations. Reporter has a GPS installed in the aircraft but purchased the hand-held unit for his wife to use. She is not a pilot, but likes to keep aware of position en route and has used the hand-held more than reporter. He was alone at the time of the incident. The aircraft is an experimental lancair 4.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF LANCAIR 4 USING GPS ENTERS CLASS C AIRSPACE WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: ENTERED BUR CLASS C INADVERTENTLY. WAS USING NEW GPS HAND-HELD AND HAVING TROUBLE WITH IT. SHOULD HAVE USED VORS AS BACKUP TO PREVENT INCURSION. LACK OF GND REF WAS A PROB ALSO -- ALL THE MORE REASON FOR A BACKUP. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT AREA IN WHICH TO OPERATE WITH THE PROX OF LAX CLASS B AND BUR CLASS B AIRSPACE. HE WOULD NORMALLY HAVE USED THE LAX VOR AS HIS NAVAID CHK BUT WAS TRYING TO LEARN THE GPS HAND-HELD OPS. RPTR HAS A GPS INSTALLED IN THE ACFT BUT PURCHASED THE HAND-HELD UNIT FOR HIS WIFE TO USE. SHE IS NOT A PLT, BUT LIKES TO KEEP AWARE OF POS ENRTE AND HAS USED THE HAND-HELD MORE THAN RPTR. HE WAS ALONE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE ACFT IS AN EXPERIMENTAL LANCAIR 4.

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.