Narrative:

I (CFI) was giving instruction to the post-solo student in preparation for his solo flts in the ptk practice area (17 NM northeast ptk). As part of this instruction, I have my students return to the ptk (tower, control zone) under simulated MVFR conditions. I do not put a view limiting device on them, I just have them return in uncontrolled airspace (below 700' AGL) and teach them the pilotage/landmarks that will bring them to a point 6 NM north of the airport, where they would acquire a SVFR, if the WX so warranted. As we departed the practice area the WX was approximately 20 overcast, 7 mi. Pontiac ATIS was reporting 15 overcast, 7 mi. As we proceeded southwest the WX was deteriorating to about 7 overcast, 2 mi. As we proceeded to our point 6 NM north of ptk, pontiac came out with new WX 3 overcast, 2 mi, light snow and fog. The WX at our position was about 6 overcast, 2 var, 4 mi visibility. At this time I was having my student navigation, paralleling a divided highway which travels a circular path 5 mi north of the airport. With the WX continuing to deteriorate, I terminated the training exercise and prepared to contact ATC (detroit approach). We were monitoring ptk tower. While preparing for an IFR approach and with my student and I flying the aircraft (my mistake) our northwest heading became a southwest heading and our LORAN showed psi VOR (VOR is 5 NM northwest of airport), 260 degrees and 3.5 NM. Checking this on a VFR detroit sectional that would have put us just inside the pontiac control zone. Upon noting this I assumed full control of the aircraft and turned northeast and proceeded to intercept the psi 060 degree right and navigated to the 6 DME point (8 NM of the airport). I contacted detroit approach and received my IFR clearance and an IFR approach into pontiac. I'm not exactly sure if penetration of the zone occurred, however in this day and age I feel it was close enough to warrant this report.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA UNAUTH PENETRATION OF CTL ZONE.

Narrative: I (CFI) WAS GIVING INSTRUCTION TO THE POST-SOLO STUDENT IN PREPARATION FOR HIS SOLO FLTS IN THE PTK PRACTICE AREA (17 NM NE PTK). AS PART OF THIS INSTRUCTION, I HAVE MY STUDENTS RETURN TO THE PTK (TWR, CTL ZONE) UNDER SIMULATED MVFR CONDITIONS. I DO NOT PUT A VIEW LIMITING DEVICE ON THEM, I JUST HAVE THEM RETURN IN UNCONTROLLED AIRSPACE (BELOW 700' AGL) AND TEACH THEM THE PILOTAGE/LANDMARKS THAT WILL BRING THEM TO A POINT 6 NM N OF THE ARPT, WHERE THEY WOULD ACQUIRE A SVFR, IF THE WX SO WARRANTED. AS WE DEPARTED THE PRACTICE AREA THE WX WAS APPROX 20 OVCST, 7 MI. PONTIAC ATIS WAS RPTING 15 OVCST, 7 MI. AS WE PROCEEDED SW THE WX WAS DETERIORATING TO ABOUT 7 OVCST, 2 MI. AS WE PROCEEDED TO OUR POINT 6 NM N OF PTK, PONTIAC CAME OUT WITH NEW WX 3 OVCST, 2 MI, LIGHT SNOW AND FOG. THE WX AT OUR POS WAS ABOUT 6 OVCST, 2 VAR, 4 MI VISIBILITY. AT THIS TIME I WAS HAVING MY STUDENT NAV, PARALLELING A DIVIDED HWY WHICH TRAVELS A CIRCULAR PATH 5 MI N OF THE ARPT. WITH THE WX CONTINUING TO DETERIORATE, I TERMINATED THE TRNING EXERCISE AND PREPARED TO CONTACT ATC (DETROIT APCH). WE WERE MONITORING PTK TWR. WHILE PREPARING FOR AN IFR APCH AND WITH MY STUDENT AND I FLYING THE ACFT (MY MISTAKE) OUR NW HDG BECAME A SW HDG AND OUR LORAN SHOWED PSI VOR (VOR IS 5 NM NW OF ARPT), 260 DEGS AND 3.5 NM. CHKING THIS ON A VFR DETROIT SECTIONAL THAT WOULD HAVE PUT US JUST INSIDE THE PONTIAC CTL ZONE. UPON NOTING THIS I ASSUMED FULL CONTROL OF THE ACFT AND TURNED NE AND PROCEEDED TO INTERCEPT THE PSI 060 DEG R AND NAVIGATED TO THE 6 DME POINT (8 NM OF THE ARPT). I CONTACTED DETROIT APCH AND RECEIVED MY IFR CLRNC AND AN IFR APCH INTO PONTIAC. I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE IF PENETRATION OF THE ZONE OCCURRED, HOWEVER IN THIS DAY AND AGE I FEEL IT WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO WARRANT THIS RPT.

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.