C172 pilot programming GPS unit strays into class C airspace without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	372941
Time
Date	199706
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mmu
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 36 flight time total : 450 flight time type : 450
ASRS Report	372941
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Training flight in new cessna 172R with GPS. After departing mmu VFR to mbj, I was attempting to program GPS. Whilst programming, I climbed into class B without authority/authorized. When GPS was programmed, I noticed DME from lga was only 18.5 mi (class B extends 20 mi, floor of class B is 3000 ft). I immediately descended to 2500 ft until beyond 20 mi of lga. I was in class B for about 5 mins. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter states that while the training manual was 'excellent' it was very complex. He feels it would be helpful to start with simple scenarios and work up to more difficult scenarios such as an instrument approach. In this incident, he was spending a lot of time programming the GPS and not monitoring the aircraft enough. Another problem in this aircraft was the connection of the DME in such a way that it needed to be switched from GPS to VOR separately and he did not have it consistently set on lga while programming. Having used a hand-held GPS previously, he did not have that problem. His consensus is that if you are going to use the GPS as a primary navigation instrument, you had better know what you are doing before you get in the air. In fact, he suggests at least 3-5 hours of flight instruction in the use of GPS for IFR flight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PLT PROGRAMMING GPS UNIT STRAYS INTO CLASS C AIRSPACE WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: TRAINING FLT IN NEW CESSNA 172R WITH GPS. AFTER DEPARTING MMU VFR TO MBJ, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PROGRAM GPS. WHILST PROGRAMMING, I CLBED INTO CLASS B WITHOUT AUTH. WHEN GPS WAS PROGRAMMED, I NOTICED DME FROM LGA WAS ONLY 18.5 MI (CLASS B EXTENDS 20 MI, FLOOR OF CLASS B IS 3000 FT). I IMMEDIATELY DSNDED TO 2500 FT UNTIL BEYOND 20 MI OF LGA. I WAS IN CLASS B FOR ABOUT 5 MINS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES THAT WHILE THE TRAINING MANUAL WAS 'EXCELLENT' IT WAS VERY COMPLEX. HE FEELS IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO START WITH SIMPLE SCENARIOS AND WORK UP TO MORE DIFFICULT SCENARIOS SUCH AS AN INST APCH. IN THIS INCIDENT, HE WAS SPENDING A LOT OF TIME PROGRAMMING THE GPS AND NOT MONITORING THE ACFT ENOUGH. ANOTHER PROB IN THIS ACFT WAS THE CONNECTION OF THE DME IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT NEEDED TO BE SWITCHED FROM GPS TO VOR SEPARATELY AND HE DID NOT HAVE IT CONSISTENTLY SET ON LGA WHILE PROGRAMMING. HAVING USED A HAND-HELD GPS PREVIOUSLY, HE DID NOT HAVE THAT PROB. HIS CONSENSUS IS THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE THE GPS AS A PRIMARY NAV INST, YOU HAD BETTER KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING BEFORE YOU GET IN THE AIR. IN FACT, HE SUGGESTS AT LEAST 3-5 HRS OF FLT INSTRUCTION IN THE USE OF GPS FOR IFR FLT.

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.