Narrative:

At approximately XX00 am, 8/wed/88, local time, we arrived at gjt, loaded the aircraft and filed a VFR flight plan from gjt to sequoia RNAV direct. This was in person at the gjt FSS. We have both RNAV and LORAN as well as VOR DME and we are able to navigation within 1/2 mi in most cases. After checking the WX in person at the FSS, I specifically asked the specialist if we could go direct since there were several restr areas west of our position on the way to sequoia. In fact, I said that the whole state of nv is almost either a restr area or MOA. He said that the areas west were not used often and had not been used for some time. Although this may not have been what he meant, this is what he said. I then thought that I was given information that the restr areas were not hot and proceeded west using LORAN. I made position reports at cdc and wilson creek and was not given further information that the area ahead had become hot even thought I specifically told the FSS personnel that I was on a VFR flight plan from gjt to sequoia and flying RNAV direct. It did not occur to me therefore to ask again about the status of these areas although hindsight would now direct me to do so. Also there was no mention of the areas by the FSS personnel as might have been the case if they were aware of activity in the restr areas. These were position reports on a VFR flight plan from gjt to sequoia. At approximately XX00Z we were intercepted by an small transport from the atomic energy commission and told we were in violation . I feel that this transgression occurred because of a communication mistake between the FSS person and myself about the use of the airspace and I would not have entered the restr area if I had been given the correct information. In less high terrain conditions, that is lower MEA's, I always file IFR. The center will then also help keep one from flying into a hot area. However in the low traffic conditions in the mountains and the high altitudes that are required to get an IFR clearance when it is usually clear and more than 25 mi makes it less practical to use the center and we must then rely more on the FSS. I trust this explains the problem as I see it. I have learned to be more careful about what kind of answers I might get to such problems and how to ask better questions on how to fly the area. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter insists he was never in the restr area, always north of it. The radial he indicates would keep him north, but he also stated he was going RNAV 'direct.' he has heard nothing further from the incident.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PENETRATED RESTRICTED AIRSPACE WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: AT APPROX XX00 AM, 8/WED/88, LCL TIME, WE ARRIVED AT GJT, LOADED THE ACFT AND FILED A VFR FLT PLAN FROM GJT TO SEQUOIA RNAV DIRECT. THIS WAS IN PERSON AT THE GJT FSS. WE HAVE BOTH RNAV AND LORAN AS WELL AS VOR DME AND WE ARE ABLE TO NAV WITHIN 1/2 MI IN MOST CASES. AFTER CHKING THE WX IN PERSON AT THE FSS, I SPECIFICALLY ASKED THE SPECIALIST IF WE COULD GO DIRECT SINCE THERE WERE SEVERAL RESTR AREAS W OF OUR POS ON THE WAY TO SEQUOIA. IN FACT, I SAID THAT THE WHOLE STATE OF NV IS ALMOST EITHER A RESTR AREA OR MOA. HE SAID THAT THE AREAS W WERE NOT USED OFTEN AND HAD NOT BEEN USED FOR SOME TIME. ALTHOUGH THIS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN WHAT HE MEANT, THIS IS WHAT HE SAID. I THEN THOUGHT THAT I WAS GIVEN INFO THAT THE RESTR AREAS WERE NOT HOT AND PROCEEDED W USING LORAN. I MADE POS RPTS AT CDC AND WILSON CREEK AND WAS NOT GIVEN FURTHER INFO THAT THE AREA AHEAD HAD BECOME HOT EVEN THOUGHT I SPECIFICALLY TOLD THE FSS PERSONNEL THAT I WAS ON A VFR FLT PLAN FROM GJT TO SEQUOIA AND FLYING RNAV DIRECT. IT DID NOT OCCUR TO ME THEREFORE TO ASK AGAIN ABOUT THE STATUS OF THESE AREAS ALTHOUGH HINDSIGHT WOULD NOW DIRECT ME TO DO SO. ALSO THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THE AREAS BY THE FSS PERSONNEL AS MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE CASE IF THEY WERE AWARE OF ACTIVITY IN THE RESTR AREAS. THESE WERE POS RPTS ON A VFR FLT PLAN FROM GJT TO SEQUOIA. AT APPROX XX00Z WE WERE INTERCEPTED BY AN SMT FROM THE ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION AND TOLD WE WERE IN VIOLATION . I FEEL THAT THIS TRANSGRESSION OCCURRED BECAUSE OF A COM MISTAKE BTWN THE FSS PERSON AND MYSELF ABOUT THE USE OF THE AIRSPACE AND I WOULD NOT HAVE ENTERED THE RESTR AREA IF I HAD BEEN GIVEN THE CORRECT INFO. IN LESS HIGH TERRAIN CONDITIONS, THAT IS LOWER MEA'S, I ALWAYS FILE IFR. THE CENTER WILL THEN ALSO HELP KEEP ONE FROM FLYING INTO A HOT AREA. HOWEVER IN THE LOW TFC CONDITIONS IN THE MOUNTAINS AND THE HIGH ALTS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO GET AN IFR CLRNC WHEN IT IS USUALLY CLEAR AND MORE THAN 25 MI MAKES IT LESS PRACTICAL TO USE THE CENTER AND WE MUST THEN RELY MORE ON THE FSS. I TRUST THIS EXPLAINS THE PROB AS I SEE IT. I HAVE LEARNED TO BE MORE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT KIND OF ANSWERS I MIGHT GET TO SUCH PROBS AND HOW TO ASK BETTER QUESTIONS ON HOW TO FLY THE AREA. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: RPTR INSISTS HE WAS NEVER IN THE RESTR AREA, ALWAYS N OF IT. THE RADIAL HE INDICATES WOULD KEEP HIM N, BUT HE ALSO STATED HE WAS GOING RNAV 'DIRECT.' HE HAS HEARD NOTHING FURTHER FROM THE INCIDENT.

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.