Narrative:

I taxied from the ramp to the runup area and at that point realized how much traffic was at frg. I held for takeoff for 30 mins while the tower, operating on 2 frequencys, tried to control traffic by having them hold right outside the pattern. There were up to 8 people let into the pattern at one time -- both downwind and straight-in entries. After being denied touch-and-goes, I departed to the north. After 40 mins of maneuvers, I attempted return to the airport (class D). They were using 2 frequencys for tower. I was told stand by 5 mins twice and then received instructions to proceed to deer park. There were 4-5 aircraft holding over the deer park VOR. There is a 1 1/2 mi corridor between republic's class D and islip's class C (15 NM center-to- center). What I believed to be republic was in fact islip and it was discovered when I realized runway alignment and keyed off by republic tower not able to locate me on radar. I then called approach, notified them of my position and altitude, and received a vector back to republic airport. I was disoriented as to my position. It was getting close to dusk and there was a great deal of glare. I was also very concerned with getting back into republic with all the traffic and looking for traffic. I was not as familiar with the area as I should be and roads and references are similar at both airports.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOW TIME GA PLT CONFUSES ISP FOR FRG AND INADVERTENTLY ENTERS ISP'S CLASS C AIRSPACE.

Narrative: I TAXIED FROM THE RAMP TO THE RUNUP AREA AND AT THAT POINT REALIZED HOW MUCH TFC WAS AT FRG. I HELD FOR TKOF FOR 30 MINS WHILE THE TWR, OPERATING ON 2 FREQS, TRIED TO CTL TFC BY HAVING THEM HOLD RIGHT OUTSIDE THE PATTERN. THERE WERE UP TO 8 PEOPLE LET INTO THE PATTERN AT ONE TIME -- BOTH DOWNWIND AND STRAIGHT-IN ENTRIES. AFTER BEING DENIED TOUCH-AND-GOES, I DEPARTED TO THE N. AFTER 40 MINS OF MANEUVERS, I ATTEMPTED RETURN TO THE ARPT (CLASS D). THEY WERE USING 2 FREQS FOR TWR. I WAS TOLD STAND BY 5 MINS TWICE AND THEN RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS TO PROCEED TO DEER PARK. THERE WERE 4-5 ACFT HOLDING OVER THE DEER PARK VOR. THERE IS A 1 1/2 MI CORRIDOR BTWN REPUBLIC'S CLASS D AND ISLIP'S CLASS C (15 NM CTR-TO- CTR). WHAT I BELIEVED TO BE REPUBLIC WAS IN FACT ISLIP AND IT WAS DISCOVERED WHEN I REALIZED RWY ALIGNMENT AND KEYED OFF BY REPUBLIC TWR NOT ABLE TO LOCATE ME ON RADAR. I THEN CALLED APCH, NOTIFIED THEM OF MY POS AND ALT, AND RECEIVED A VECTOR BACK TO REPUBLIC ARPT. I WAS DISORIENTED AS TO MY POS. IT WAS GETTING CLOSE TO DUSK AND THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF GLARE. I WAS ALSO VERY CONCERNED WITH GETTING BACK INTO REPUBLIC WITH ALL THE TFC AND LOOKING FOR TFC. I WAS NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA AS I SHOULD BE AND ROADS AND REFS ARE SIMILAR AT BOTH ARPTS.

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.