Reporter allegedly entered restricted area without ATC clearance.

Attributes
ACN	118369
Time
Date	198907
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ape
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 17500 msl bound upper : 17500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 1400
ASRS Report	118369
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

On a VFR flight from RI8 (metropolitan airport, indianapolis, in) to dca (washington national, dc), it is alleged by the FAA that the aircraft penetrated restr area R5503. The flight was conducted with the guidance of a LORAN programmed to follow a direct route from 4i8 to dca. This route passes R5503 approximately 14 mi to the north. Because the route of flight directed by the LORAN was followed precisely by the PIC, it is believed that a penetration of the restr area is highly unlikely. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter states that while it is possible that he was slightly south of the intended track it is highly unlikely. The track does appear to be north of the restr area. He states that he was not in contact with ATC at the time but his progress was monitored and he was informed of the alleged entry when he contacted dca approach controller. The navigation equipment was apparently operating normally.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: REPORTER ALLEGEDLY ENTERED RESTRICTED AREA WITHOUT ATC CLRNC.

Narrative: ON A VFR FLT FROM RI8 (METROPOLITAN ARPT, INDIANAPOLIS, IN) TO DCA (WASHINGTON NATIONAL, DC), IT IS ALLEGED BY THE FAA THAT THE ACFT PENETRATED RESTR AREA R5503. THE FLT WAS CONDUCTED WITH THE GUIDANCE OF A LORAN PROGRAMMED TO FOLLOW A DIRECT ROUTE FROM 4I8 TO DCA. THIS ROUTE PASSES R5503 APPROX 14 MI TO THE N. BECAUSE THE ROUTE OF FLT DIRECTED BY THE LORAN WAS FOLLOWED PRECISELY BY THE PIC, IT IS BELIEVED THAT A PENETRATION OF THE RESTR AREA IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH REPORTER REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: REPORTER STATES THAT WHILE IT IS POSSIBLE THAT HE WAS SLIGHTLY S OF THE INTENDED TRACK IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY. THE TRACK DOES APPEAR TO BE N OF THE RESTR AREA. HE STATES THAT HE WAS NOT IN CONTACT WITH ATC AT THE TIME BUT HIS PROGRESS WAS MONITORED AND HE WAS INFORMED OF THE ALLEGED ENTRY WHEN HE CONTACTED DCA APCH CTLR. THE NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT WAS APPARENTLY OPERATING NORMALLY.

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.