An small aircraft pilot; on a test flight to calibrate certain instruments; penetrated R2516 while c...

Attributes
ACN	672662
Time
Date	200509
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : mqo.vortac
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft Low Wing 1 Eng Fixed Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
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 : 10 flight time total : 750 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	672662
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

While on a calibration test flight of my pitot-static system; I inadvertently entered vandenberg AFB restricted airspace R2516 at its northeast corner. I had earlier done a flight to determine the wind speed and direction at my altitude; and was flying on one of those headings when the violation occurred. I had my heading and altitude-hold autoplts engaged; and was concentrating on my GPS readout of ground speed when I saw on its display that I was right at the edge of R2516; flying in a southwesterly direction of 230 degrees magnetic. I immediately disengaged both autoplts and instituted a 180 degree turn; but by this time at my ground speed of 220 mph; I penetrated R2516 by about 1 mile. This is an area I fly in all the time; and I'm familiar with R2516 surface projection. In this instance; the surface in this area was covered with an overcast marine layer; so I missed the surface cues of my whereabouts. This was a typical case of having too much concentration in the cockpit without looking out to see where I was. Contributing was that my GPS; which usually warns me when I am nearing controled airspace; such as class B; C; and D; gave no such warning for R2516; although it was clearly depicted on the garmin 196 screen.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA PLT; ON A TEST FLT TO CALIBRATE CERTAIN INSTRUMENTS; PENETRATED R2516 WHILE CONCENTRATING ON HIS GPS READOUT.

Narrative: WHILE ON A CALIBRATION TEST FLT OF MY PITOT-STATIC SYSTEM; I INADVERTENTLY ENTERED VANDENBERG AFB RESTRICTED AIRSPACE R2516 AT ITS NORTHEAST CORNER. I HAD EARLIER DONE A FLT TO DETERMINE THE WIND SPD AND DIRECTION AT MY ALT; AND WAS FLYING ON ONE OF THOSE HDGS WHEN THE VIOLATION OCCURRED. I HAD MY HDG AND ALT-HOLD AUTOPLTS ENGAGED; AND WAS CONCENTRATING ON MY GPS READOUT OF GND SPD WHEN I SAW ON ITS DISPLAY THAT I WAS RIGHT AT THE EDGE OF R2516; FLYING IN A SOUTHWESTERLY DIRECTION OF 230 DEGS MAGNETIC. I IMMEDIATELY DISENGAGED BOTH AUTOPLTS AND INSTITUTED A 180 DEG TURN; BUT BY THIS TIME AT MY GND SPD OF 220 MPH; I PENETRATED R2516 BY ABOUT 1 MILE. THIS IS AN AREA I FLY IN ALL THE TIME; AND I'M FAMILIAR WITH R2516 SURFACE PROJECTION. IN THIS INSTANCE; THE SURFACE IN THIS AREA WAS COVERED WITH AN OVERCAST MARINE LAYER; SO I MISSED THE SURFACE CUES OF MY WHEREABOUTS. THIS WAS A TYPICAL CASE OF HAVING TOO MUCH CONCENTRATION IN THE COCKPIT WITHOUT LOOKING OUT TO SEE WHERE I WAS. CONTRIBUTING WAS THAT MY GPS; WHICH USUALLY WARNS ME WHEN I AM NEARING CTLED AIRSPACE; SUCH AS CLASS B; C; AND D; GAVE NO SUCH WARNING FOR R2516; ALTHOUGH IT WAS CLEARLY DEPICTED ON THE GARMIN 196 SCREEN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.

An small aircraft pilot; on a test flight to calibrate certain instruments; penetrated R2516 while concentrating on his GPS readout.