Pilot of a cessna 172 became distracted and entered class D airspace.

Attributes
ACN	465500
Time
Date	200002
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ptro.airport
State Reference	MI
Altitude	agl single value : 800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ptk.tower
Operator	Other
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	government other
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 800 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	465500
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While searching route from jackson to port huron I inadvertently entered pontiac class D airspace before I had established radio contact. I knew pontiac was directly on my route, but due to divided attention I waited too long to call tower. I immediately reversed course and called tower. They informed me I was only 2.2 mi from the field.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF A CESSNA 172 BECAME DISTRACTED AND ENTERED CLASS D AIRSPACE.

Narrative: WHILE SEARCHING RTE FROM JACKSON TO PORT HURON I INADVERTENTLY ENTERED PONTIAC CLASS D AIRSPACE BEFORE I HAD ESTABLISHED RADIO CONTACT. I KNEW PONTIAC WAS DIRECTLY ON MY RTE, BUT DUE TO DIVIDED ATTN I WAITED TOO LONG TO CALL TWR. I IMMEDIATELY REVERSED COURSE AND CALLED TWR. THEY INFORMED ME I WAS ONLY 2.2 MI FROM THE FIELD.

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.