Narrative:

I was plting an small aircraft X en route from frg to ttn. Trenton ATC was in communication with me but they did not see me nor did I see the airfield. My flight was about 10 mins late when I had the airport in sight. I was complying with the instructions to enter a left downwind for runway 24 at trenton. I advised ATC of my position downwind, but they still did not have me in sight. I advised trenton ATC that there was traffic on downwind ahead however, trenton ATC advised me that he hadn't any traffic. At this point trenton ATC and myself knew that I was in the philadelphia air traffic area west/O proper clearance. I immediately contacted philadelphia tower and advised them of the situation. They acknowledged me and said it was alright. I attribute the problem to faulty planning the previous night. I had come home late from work, and I finished my flight planning at that time. I had computed that the 265 degree right from the colts neck VOR would take me to trenton. It was actually the 280 degree right from the colts neck VOR that would have taken me to trenton. This problem could have been avoided if I had paid special attention to my navigation procedures the night before. In addition, I should have monitored progress of the flight as closely as possible instead of letting things happen as they may. I feel that I am lucky, for this flight could have provided tragedy for me, my passenger, and other aircraft that were unaware of my position. I have learned a great lesson from this flight. Even we the pilots in general aviation who fly under far part 91 must take every flight seriously and with the most professional attitude towards flying.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INEXPERIENCED SMA PLT PENETRATES PHL ATA.

Narrative: I WAS PLTING AN SMA X ENRTE FROM FRG TO TTN. TRENTON ATC WAS IN COM WITH ME BUT THEY DID NOT SEE ME NOR DID I SEE THE AIRFIELD. MY FLT WAS ABOUT 10 MINS LATE WHEN I HAD THE ARPT IN SIGHT. I WAS COMPLYING WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS TO ENTER A L DOWNWIND FOR RWY 24 AT TRENTON. I ADVISED ATC OF MY POS DOWNWIND, BUT THEY STILL DID NOT HAVE ME IN SIGHT. I ADVISED TRENTON ATC THAT THERE WAS TFC ON DOWNWIND AHEAD HOWEVER, TRENTON ATC ADVISED ME THAT HE HADN'T ANY TFC. AT THIS POINT TRENTON ATC AND MYSELF KNEW THAT I WAS IN THE PHILADELPHIA ATA W/O PROPER CLRNC. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED PHILADELPHIA TWR AND ADVISED THEM OF THE SITUATION. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED ME AND SAID IT WAS ALRIGHT. I ATTRIBUTE THE PROB TO FAULTY PLANNING THE PREVIOUS NIGHT. I HAD COME HOME LATE FROM WORK, AND I FINISHED MY FLT PLANNING AT THAT TIME. I HAD COMPUTED THAT THE 265 DEG R FROM THE COLTS NECK VOR WOULD TAKE ME TO TRENTON. IT WAS ACTUALLY THE 280 DEG R FROM THE COLTS NECK VOR THAT WOULD HAVE TAKEN ME TO TRENTON. THIS PROB COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF I HAD PAID SPECIAL ATTN TO MY NAV PROCS THE NIGHT BEFORE. IN ADDITION, I SHOULD HAVE MONITORED PROGRESS OF THE FLT AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE INSTEAD OF LETTING THINGS HAPPEN AS THEY MAY. I FEEL THAT I AM LUCKY, FOR THIS FLT COULD HAVE PROVIDED TRAGEDY FOR ME, MY PAX, AND OTHER ACFT THAT WERE UNAWARE OF MY POS. I HAVE LEARNED A GREAT LESSON FROM THIS FLT. EVEN WE THE PLTS IN GENERAL AVIATION WHO FLY UNDER FAR PART 91 MUST TAKE EVERY FLT SERIOUSLY AND WITH THE MOST PROFESSIONAL ATTITUDE TOWARDS FLYING.

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