Pilot of PA31 entered mkk class D airspace while performing IFR maneuvers with instructor pilot.

Attributes
ACN	578882
Time
Date	200304
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mkk.airport
State Reference	HI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	PA-31 Navajo Chieftan/Mojave/Navajo T1020
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 1600 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	578882
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : instructor
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While on a training flight with a qualified flight instructor, I entered class D airspace without contacting the tower. This was an instrument competency check ride and I was 'under the hood' simulating instrument conditions. I became aware that we were operating below 3000 ft MSL and inside the control zone of molokai airport. We climbed back to 3000 ft, exited the area to the south, without incident. In retrospect I should have suggested to the flight instructor that we perform our flight maneuvers to the north of the island where there was no possibility of getting close to the airport. I have to remember that I'm PIC even though I'm taking instruction from a CFI. It is just so easy to lose positional awareness while doing flight maneuvers. Good judgement calls for making sure there is lots of room to move!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF PA31 ENTERED MKK CLASS D AIRSPACE WHILE PERFORMING IFR MANEUVERS WITH INSTRUCTOR PLT.

Narrative: WHILE ON A TRAINING FLT WITH A QUALIFIED FLT INSTRUCTOR, I ENTERED CLASS D AIRSPACE WITHOUT CONTACTING THE TWR. THIS WAS AN INST COMPETENCY CHK RIDE AND I WAS 'UNDER THE HOOD' SIMULATING INST CONDITIONS. I BECAME AWARE THAT WE WERE OPERATING BELOW 3000 FT MSL AND INSIDE THE CTL ZONE OF MOLOKAI ARPT. WE CLBED BACK TO 3000 FT, EXITED THE AREA TO THE S, WITHOUT INCIDENT. IN RETROSPECT I SHOULD HAVE SUGGESTED TO THE FLT INSTRUCTOR THAT WE PERFORM OUR FLT MANEUVERS TO THE N OF THE ISLAND WHERE THERE WAS NO POSSIBILITY OF GETTING CLOSE TO THE ARPT. I HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT I'M PIC EVEN THOUGH I'M TAKING INSTRUCTION FROM A CFI. IT IS JUST SO EASY TO LOSE POSITIONAL AWARENESS WHILE DOING FLT MANEUVERS. GOOD JUDGEMENT CALLS FOR MAKING SURE THERE IS LOTS OF ROOM TO MOVE!

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.