An AA5A pilot wandered into R-3007 while attempting to load his GPS in order to avoid restr airspace...

Attributes
ACN	587794
Time
Date	200307
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	special use airspace : r3007.restricted
State Reference	FL
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cheetah, Tiger, Traveler
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx.artcc
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Hornet (F-18)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute other
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 2000 flight time type : 1800
ASRS Report	587794
Person 2
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : military
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
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:

During a cross country trip from ssi to pdk, I entered restr airspace in the vicinity of the townsend bombing range, R-3007-B, C, D, and east. During this time, I was distraction from routine VFR navigation while working with a GPS device that was not fully known to me. I soon observed what appeared to be F-18 aircraft in the airspace and realized the navigation error and turned southwest to cross the altamaha river and left the restr airspace. In 28 yrs of GA flying, I have never knowingly violated restr or prohibited airspace. I am aware of the dangers of entering these areas when the airspace is 'hot.' I attribute this lapse in navigation to concerns about summertime WX at our destination airport and distraction from plting performance while I worked with the GPS unit. The lesson to learn over and over again is to fly the airplane and know where you are. The GPS that I thought would always keep me on track, actually distraction me off course when I tried to program it while in the vicinity of restr airspace.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN AA5A PLT WANDERED INTO R-3007 WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LOAD HIS GPS IN ORDER TO AVOID RESTR AIRSPACE.

Narrative: DURING A XCOUNTRY TRIP FROM SSI TO PDK, I ENTERED RESTR AIRSPACE IN THE VICINITY OF THE TOWNSEND BOMBING RANGE, R-3007-B, C, D, AND E. DURING THIS TIME, I WAS DISTR FROM ROUTINE VFR NAV WHILE WORKING WITH A GPS DEVICE THAT WAS NOT FULLY KNOWN TO ME. I SOON OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE F-18 ACFT IN THE AIRSPACE AND REALIZED THE NAV ERROR AND TURNED SW TO CROSS THE ALTAMAHA RIVER AND LEFT THE RESTR AIRSPACE. IN 28 YRS OF GA FLYING, I HAVE NEVER KNOWINGLY VIOLATED RESTR OR PROHIBITED AIRSPACE. I AM AWARE OF THE DANGERS OF ENTERING THESE AREAS WHEN THE AIRSPACE IS 'HOT.' I ATTRIBUTE THIS LAPSE IN NAV TO CONCERNS ABOUT SUMMERTIME WX AT OUR DEST ARPT AND DISTR FROM PLTING PERFORMANCE WHILE I WORKED WITH THE GPS UNIT. THE LESSON TO LEARN OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS TO FLY THE AIRPLANE AND KNOW WHERE YOU ARE. THE GPS THAT I THOUGHT WOULD ALWAYS KEEP ME ON TRACK, ACTUALLY DISTR ME OFF COURSE WHEN I TRIED TO PROGRAM IT WHILE IN THE VICINITY OF RESTR 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.