During a check ride, a 2 engine small aircraft has an incursion into class C airspace at cmi, il.

Attributes
ACN	375810
Time
Date	199707
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cmi
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4400 msl bound upper : 5500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : cmi
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 49 flight time total : 260 flight time type : 13
ASRS Report	375810
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : observer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was flying at 5500 ft MSL and was doing a simulated engine failure on the left engine. The flight examiner wanted to see an emergency descent. I complied, but on the descent, heading 270 degrees, I could see cmi and felt we were too close. I attempted to find a railroad track, which runs northeast/southwest that marks the edge of class C airspace, but I couldn't find it. The examiner and I figured out that we actually were too close to cmi at the same time. We initiated a climb and a turn to 090 degrees. We were 400-600 ft below the top of class C airspace and at 9 DME, when we started the climb. DME was turned off because we are instructed to use VFR landmarks to detect our location. We turned the DME on after penetration to determine our exact location. The problem was caused by not knowing exactly where we were. The situation could have been avoided if we had used DME to confirm our position prior to the maneuver.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DURING A CHK RIDE, A 2 ENG SMA HAS AN INCURSION INTO CLASS C AIRSPACE AT CMI, IL.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING AT 5500 FT MSL AND WAS DOING A SIMULATED ENG FAILURE ON THE L ENG. THE FLT EXAMINER WANTED TO SEE AN EMER DSCNT. I COMPLIED, BUT ON THE DSCNT, HDG 270 DEGS, I COULD SEE CMI AND FELT WE WERE TOO CLOSE. I ATTEMPTED TO FIND A RAILROAD TRACK, WHICH RUNS NE/SW THAT MARKS THE EDGE OF CLASS C AIRSPACE, BUT I COULDN'T FIND IT. THE EXAMINER AND I FIGURED OUT THAT WE ACTUALLY WERE TOO CLOSE TO CMI AT THE SAME TIME. WE INITIATED A CLB AND A TURN TO 090 DEGS. WE WERE 400-600 FT BELOW THE TOP OF CLASS C AIRSPACE AND AT 9 DME, WHEN WE STARTED THE CLB. DME WAS TURNED OFF BECAUSE WE ARE INSTRUCTED TO USE VFR LANDMARKS TO DETECT OUR LOCATION. WE TURNED THE DME ON AFTER PENETRATION TO DETERMINE OUR EXACT LOCATION. THE PROB WAS CAUSED BY NOT KNOWING EXACTLY WHERE WE WERE. THE SIT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF WE HAD USED DME TO CONFIRM OUR POS PRIOR TO THE MANEUVER.

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.