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Private instrument pilot on a direct VFR flight to hhr overshot the airport and enters lax class B airspace. Pilot was using a GPS system for navigation but was attempting a visual acquisition of the airport at dusk. Distraction, he failed to note his position relative to the lax class B airspace north of hhr.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 376530 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199708 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : hhr |
| State Reference | CA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 1000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Dusk |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : lax |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Cessna 340/340A |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Navigation In Use | Other |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Route In Use | approach : visual enroute : direct |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : private pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 2000 flight time type : 1500 |
| ASRS Report | 376530 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : far other anomaly other other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : exited penetrated airspace |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
While approaching hhr from lgb, at dusk, my GPS indicated a direct course to hhr as 160 degrees. This would mean I was north of hhr according to the GPS, which would be in lax class B airspace. How did this happen? Hawthorne is not easy to find from the south and I was flying 320 degrees to hhr on the GPS while looking for the airport, found it and then noticed the 160 degrees direct hhr indication and turned south immediately. I don't think I was in lax class B airspace, yet it is unlikely for the GPS (KLN90A) to get confused. I flew along the 110 freeway and planned to turn left base for runway 25. It is hard to believe I would have crossed the 105.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PVT INST PLT ON A DIRECT VFR FLT TO HHR OVERSHOT THE ARPT AND ENTERS LAX CLASS B AIRSPACE. PLT WAS USING A GPS SYS FOR NAV BUT WAS ATTEMPTING A VISUAL ACQUISITION OF THE ARPT AT DUSK. DISTR, HE FAILED TO NOTE HIS POS RELATIVE TO THE LAX CLASS B AIRSPACE N OF HHR.
Narrative: WHILE APCHING HHR FROM LGB, AT DUSK, MY GPS INDICATED A DIRECT COURSE TO HHR AS 160 DEGS. THIS WOULD MEAN I WAS N OF HHR ACCORDING TO THE GPS, WHICH WOULD BE IN LAX CLASS B AIRSPACE. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? HAWTHORNE IS NOT EASY TO FIND FROM THE S AND I WAS FLYING 320 DEGS TO HHR ON THE GPS WHILE LOOKING FOR THE ARPT, FOUND IT AND THEN NOTICED THE 160 DEGS DIRECT HHR INDICATION AND TURNED S IMMEDIATELY. I DON'T THINK I WAS IN LAX CLASS B AIRSPACE, YET IT IS UNLIKELY FOR THE GPS (KLN90A) TO GET CONFUSED. I FLEW ALONG THE 110 FREEWAY AND PLANNED TO TURN L BASE FOR RWY 25. IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE I WOULD HAVE CROSSED THE 105.
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.