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Private pilot of a piper apache, PA23, failed to notice on preflight that the appropriate VFR code was not set on the aircraft transponder resulting in conducting a VFR cross country flight through class D and class east airspace with the wrong transponder code. The reporter noted his error during preflight prior to his return flight.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 390040 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199801 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : okv |
| State Reference | VA |
| Altitude | agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | PA-23 Apache (& Geronimo Apache) |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other descent other |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : private |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 11 flight time total : 1600 flight time type : 1400 |
| ASRS Report | 390040 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : local |
| Qualification | controller : non radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : detected after the fact |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
On start-up at okv, I noticed my transponder was set for XXXX. When I left hgr for okv, I'd checked it and it appeared to be on 1200. The angle of view is such that I mistook the reading. Unbelievable error! Since I was not under radar control, I was never advised of the discrepancy. Lesson: lean across the cockpit for a good view of the transponder setting.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PVT PLT OF A PIPER APACHE, PA23, FAILED TO NOTICE ON PREFLT THAT THE APPROPRIATE VFR CODE WAS NOT SET ON THE ACFT XPONDER RESULTING IN CONDUCTING A VFR XCOUNTRY FLT THROUGH CLASS D AND CLASS E AIRSPACE WITH THE WRONG XPONDER CODE. THE RPTR NOTED HIS ERROR DURING PREFLT PRIOR TO HIS RETURN FLT.
Narrative: ON START-UP AT OKV, I NOTICED MY XPONDER WAS SET FOR XXXX. WHEN I LEFT HGR FOR OKV, I'D CHKED IT AND IT APPEARED TO BE ON 1200. THE ANGLE OF VIEW IS SUCH THAT I MISTOOK THE READING. UNBELIEVABLE ERROR! SINCE I WAS NOT UNDER RADAR CTL, I WAS NEVER ADVISED OF THE DISCREPANCY. LESSON: LEAN ACROSS THE COCKPIT FOR A GOOD VIEW OF THE XPONDER SETTING.
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.