Narrative:

I was on a military training flight from north field, sc, to pope, AFB, nc. I was VFR and was in contact and received clearance through columbia, sc, airspace. While transiting columbia I experienced problems with my #1 communication radio. Apparently I missed columbia terminating flight following and their advice to contact shaw approach. I began troubleshooting the problem and I was following my flight route on the sectional and L-20 chart. Additionally, I was trying to pinpoint my position with the VOR and my DME to verify that I was clear of the restr area (R-6002) south of shaw AFB. According to my estimate on the sectional I believe I was north of R-6002. Then I received a call from shaw on guard (121.0) that I was in the R-6002. I immediately exited the area and apologized. I was told F-16's (X) were in the area and they had to cap them below my altitude. We never came too close to each other to create a hazard. In the future I need to pay more attention to how close I am to special use airspace, when I am dealing with a problem in the aircraft. I believe my situational awareness was complicated with the fact that this airspace sits on the very edge (ns) of the charlotte sectional. I was flipping it back and forth and thought I was clear of R-6002. In the future, when VFR, I need to chart a course well clear of such airspace.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MIL PLT INADVERTENTLY ENTERS RESTR AIRSPACE WHILE ON VFR FLT.

Narrative: I WAS ON A MIL TRAINING FLT FROM NORTH FIELD, SC, TO POPE, AFB, NC. I WAS VFR AND WAS IN CONTACT AND RECEIVED CLRNC THROUGH COLUMBIA, SC, AIRSPACE. WHILE TRANSITING COLUMBIA I EXPERIENCED PROBS WITH MY #1 COM RADIO. APPARENTLY I MISSED COLUMBIA TERMINATING FLT FOLLOWING AND THEIR ADVICE TO CONTACT SHAW APCH. I BEGAN TROUBLESHOOTING THE PROB AND I WAS FOLLOWING MY FLT RTE ON THE SECTIONAL AND L-20 CHART. ADDITIONALLY, I WAS TRYING TO PINPOINT MY POS WITH THE VOR AND MY DME TO VERIFY THAT I WAS CLR OF THE RESTR AREA (R-6002) S OF SHAW AFB. ACCORDING TO MY ESTIMATE ON THE SECTIONAL I BELIEVE I WAS N OF R-6002. THEN I RECEIVED A CALL FROM SHAW ON GUARD (121.0) THAT I WAS IN THE R-6002. I IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE AREA AND APOLOGIZED. I WAS TOLD F-16'S (X) WERE IN THE AREA AND THEY HAD TO CAP THEM BELOW MY ALT. WE NEVER CAME TOO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER TO CREATE A HAZARD. IN THE FUTURE I NEED TO PAY MORE ATTN TO HOW CLOSE I AM TO SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE, WHEN I AM DEALING WITH A PROB IN THE ACFT. I BELIEVE MY SITUATIONAL AWARENESS WAS COMPLICATED WITH THE FACT THAT THIS AIRSPACE SITS ON THE VERY EDGE (NS) OF THE CHARLOTTE SECTIONAL. I WAS FLIPPING IT BACK AND FORTH AND THOUGHT I WAS CLR OF R-6002. IN THE FUTURE, WHEN VFR, I NEED TO CHART A COURSE WELL CLR OF SUCH AIRSPACE.

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.