GA pilot penetrates tfr.

Attributes
ACN	552812
Time
Date	200207
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	special use airspace : zzz.restricted
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 36.3 flight time total : 458 flight time type : 388
ASRS Report	552812
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Airspace Structure ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departed ZZZ for ZZZ1. Route of flight using GPS was ZZZ direct ZZZ2 direct ZZZ3 direct ZZZ1. It was my understanding that a straight line between ZZZ2 and ZZZ3 below 2500 ft will keep an aircraft clear of the ZZZ tfr and the class B airspace. I have used this route several times this yr on trips to the eastern shore of maryland with no problems encountered. Upon landing at ZZZ1, I was instructed to call a government representative. I also received a call from ZZZ TRACON. I was surprised to learn that a course between ZZZ2 and ZZZ3 would clip the edge of the tfr. I was told that I had penetrated the tfr by as much as 4 mi. I was not using radar services but was monitoring ZZZ2 approach on one radio and the unicom frequencys of ZZZ2 and ZZZ3 on the second radio. I honestly felt that I was clear of the ZZZ tfr, but have been informed by 3 different agencies that I was not. As a result, I will not pass between these 2 areas without first establishing 2-WAY communication, receiving a discrete transponder code, and specific vectors from ATC before flying east of ZZZ2.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA PLT PENETRATES TFR.

Narrative: DEPARTED ZZZ FOR ZZZ1. RTE OF FLT USING GPS WAS ZZZ DIRECT ZZZ2 DIRECT ZZZ3 DIRECT ZZZ1. IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT A STRAIGHT LINE BTWN ZZZ2 AND ZZZ3 BELOW 2500 FT WILL KEEP AN ACFT CLR OF THE ZZZ TFR AND THE CLASS B AIRSPACE. I HAVE USED THIS RTE SEVERAL TIMES THIS YR ON TRIPS TO THE EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND WITH NO PROBS ENCOUNTERED. UPON LNDG AT ZZZ1, I WAS INSTRUCTED TO CALL A GOV REPRESENTATIVE. I ALSO RECEIVED A CALL FROM ZZZ TRACON. I WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT A COURSE BTWN ZZZ2 AND ZZZ3 WOULD CLIP THE EDGE OF THE TFR. I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD PENETRATED THE TFR BY AS MUCH AS 4 MI. I WAS NOT USING RADAR SVCS BUT WAS MONITORING ZZZ2 APCH ON ONE RADIO AND THE UNICOM FREQS OF ZZZ2 AND ZZZ3 ON THE SECOND RADIO. I HONESTLY FELT THAT I WAS CLR OF THE ZZZ TFR, BUT HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY 3 DIFFERENT AGENCIES THAT I WAS NOT. AS A RESULT, I WILL NOT PASS BTWN THESE 2 AREAS WITHOUT FIRST ESTABLISHING 2-WAY COM, RECEIVING A DISCRETE XPONDER CODE, AND SPECIFIC VECTORS FROM ATC BEFORE FLYING E OF ZZZ2.

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.