Alleged entry into restricted area determined by computer track.

Attributes
ACN	118775
Time
Date	198907
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ovo
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9500 msl bound upper : 9500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 2 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 45 flight time total : 1700 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	118775
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

After completing a VFR flight from huntingburg, indiana (hng) to wilkes barre, pennsylvania (avp), the ground controller asked me to call the indianapolis center. Center informed me that their computer track showed that I had flown through the corner of restr area R-3403B. I should have entered the area 7 1/2 mi south of the northwest corner and exit the area 4 mi west of the northeast corner. The computer track also showed that I made a turn directly to wilkes-barre after exiting the restr area. During this portion of the flight, I was monitoring louisville approach on 124.5, indianapolis approach on 127.15 and indianapolis center on 128.55. I was fully aware that the restr area was active. A flew in a direct line from 3 mi east of huntingburg to north vernon using LORAN and xchk with north vernon NDB. After sighting north vernon airport visually, I crossed 1 mi east of the airport on the same heading as direct huntingburg and held that heading for 5 mins. Then I reset the LORAN to direct wilkes-barre and flew the new heading. I also crosschecked the corner of the restr area using RNAV. Nabb VOR 14 degree/31.6 KT. An apparent conflict exists between the track I flew and the computer radar track. If I would have been receiving in-flight following or advisories from center, then this would have been avoided. All of this makes me question the accuracy of my navigational equipment and the center's computer tracks.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALLEGED ENTRY INTO RESTRICTED AREA DETERMINED BY COMPUTER TRACK.

Narrative: AFTER COMPLETING A VFR FLT FROM HUNTINGBURG, INDIANA (HNG) TO WILKES BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA (AVP), THE GND CTLR ASKED ME TO CALL THE INDIANAPOLIS CENTER. CENTER INFORMED ME THAT THEIR COMPUTER TRACK SHOWED THAT I HAD FLOWN THROUGH THE CORNER OF RESTR AREA R-3403B. I SHOULD HAVE ENTERED THE AREA 7 1/2 MI S OF THE NW CORNER AND EXIT THE AREA 4 MI W OF THE NE CORNER. THE COMPUTER TRACK ALSO SHOWED THAT I MADE A TURN DIRECTLY TO WILKES-BARRE AFTER EXITING THE RESTR AREA. DURING THIS PORTION OF THE FLT, I WAS MONITORING LOUISVILLE APCH ON 124.5, INDIANAPOLIS APCH ON 127.15 AND INDIANAPOLIS CENTER ON 128.55. I WAS FULLY AWARE THAT THE RESTR AREA WAS ACTIVE. A FLEW IN A DIRECT LINE FROM 3 MI E OF HUNTINGBURG TO NORTH VERNON USING LORAN AND XCHK WITH NORTH VERNON NDB. AFTER SIGHTING NORTH VERNON ARPT VISUALLY, I CROSSED 1 MI E OF THE ARPT ON THE SAME HDG AS DIRECT HUNTINGBURG AND HELD THAT HDG FOR 5 MINS. THEN I RESET THE LORAN TO DIRECT WILKES-BARRE AND FLEW THE NEW HDG. I ALSO XCHKED THE CORNER OF THE RESTR AREA USING RNAV. NABB VOR 14 DEG/31.6 KT. AN APPARENT CONFLICT EXISTS BETWEEN THE TRACK I FLEW AND THE COMPUTER RADAR TRACK. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN RECEIVING INFLT FOLLOWING OR ADVISORIES FROM CENTER, THEN THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. ALL OF THIS MAKES ME QUESTION THE ACCURACY OF MY NAVIGATIONAL EQUIPMENT AND THE CENTER'S COMPUTER TRACKS.

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.