Close proximity GA small aircraft and parachutist in restricted area that was advertised not active.

Attributes
ACN	81862
Time
Date	198802
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bed
State Reference	MA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 102 flight time type : 75
ASRS Report	81862
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 100
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

While on cross-country VFR from orange, ma to hanscom (bed), had near collision with parachutist at or near restr area R-4102 a&B at ft devens, ma. I had a full preflight briefing from the bridgeport FSS with NOTAMS approximately 1 hour prior to departure. No NOTAMS indicated that R-4102 a&B was/were active. Normal active day is sat only. Many pilots think that there can be no activity in an inactive restr area. The legend on aeronautical charts should remind pilots that some civilian or military operations are still possible even in an inactive restr area. No accident resulted in this incident, but vertical descending parachutes are very difficult to sight and avoid. I was able to make a shallow banked turn to avoid the parachute.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLOSE PROX GA SMA AND PARACHUTIST IN RESTRICTED AREA THAT WAS ADVERTISED NOT ACTIVE.

Narrative: WHILE ON CROSS-COUNTRY VFR FROM ORANGE, MA TO HANSCOM (BED), HAD NEAR COLLISION WITH PARACHUTIST AT OR NEAR RESTR AREA R-4102 A&B AT FT DEVENS, MA. I HAD A FULL PREFLT BRIEFING FROM THE BRIDGEPORT FSS WITH NOTAMS APPROX 1 HR PRIOR TO DEP. NO NOTAMS INDICATED THAT R-4102 A&B WAS/WERE ACTIVE. NORMAL ACTIVE DAY IS SAT ONLY. MANY PLTS THINK THAT THERE CAN BE NO ACTIVITY IN AN INACTIVE RESTR AREA. THE LEGEND ON AERONAUTICAL CHARTS SHOULD REMIND PLTS THAT SOME CIVILIAN OR MIL OPS ARE STILL POSSIBLE EVEN IN AN INACTIVE RESTR AREA. NO ACCIDENT RESULTED IN THIS INCIDENT, BUT VERT DSNDING PARACHUTES ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO SIGHT AND AVOID. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE A SHALLOW BANKED TURN TO AVOID THE PARACHUTE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.