Narrative:

While flying VFR to pvf; I was in a 2002 C172S that I had never flown before. It had an mfd with GPS and tis; and I was teaching myself to use this equipment. When I began my descent I didn't notice the very faint pink circle around mhr; it was the same color as the range rings on the display! When I saw out the window that I was close to the airport I initiated a right turn away at 2300 ft (airspace goes to 2600 ft). Looking at the mfd; I was right near the edge of the airspace. I'm not sure if I penetrated mhr airspace or not; but it was very close. The contributing factors were unfamiliar with the new GPS/mfd and fixation on trying to learn the equipment. My saving grace was looking outside and seeing the airport visually!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF C172; UNFAMILIAR WITH GPS NAV EQUIPMENT ONBOARD; FAILS TO MONITOR HIS POS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LEARN THE SYSTEM DURING FLT. FLIES INTO MILITARY CLASS D AREA WHILE DOING SO.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING VFR TO PVF; I WAS IN A 2002 C172S THAT I HAD NEVER FLOWN BEFORE. IT HAD AN MFD WITH GPS AND TIS; AND I WAS TEACHING MYSELF TO USE THIS EQUIPMENT. WHEN I BEGAN MY DSCNT I DIDN'T NOTICE THE VERY FAINT PINK CIRCLE AROUND MHR; IT WAS THE SAME COLOR AS THE RANGE RINGS ON THE DISPLAY! WHEN I SAW OUT THE WINDOW THAT I WAS CLOSE TO THE ARPT I INITIATED A R TURN AWAY AT 2300 FT (AIRSPACE GOES TO 2600 FT). LOOKING AT THE MFD; I WAS RIGHT NEAR THE EDGE OF THE AIRSPACE. I'M NOT SURE IF I PENETRATED MHR AIRSPACE OR NOT; BUT IT WAS VERY CLOSE. THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE NEW GPS/MFD AND FIXATION ON TRYING TO LEARN THE EQUIPMENT. MY SAVING GRACE WAS LOOKING OUTSIDE AND SEEING THE ARPT VISUALLY!

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.