Possibly entered ord TCA.

Attributes
ACN	141786
Time
Date	199004
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : jot
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4500 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 4075 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	141786
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We departed early from mzz for a flight I had made many times before, both VFR and IFR. Normal procedure was to go direct to eon VFR, then direct to jot VFR, then direct to destination, arrival. This particular flight was VFR and I proceeded as stated above. About 20 mi from eon, I switched over to jot on my navigation receiver. At the same time I dialed in arrival in my LORAN C. Some mins later I looked down and noticed other ground points than what I was used to seeing on that route. Unsure of my position, I immediately made a left turn to the west and descended below 3500' MSL and continued on my way. Looking back later I realized I may have flown through the southwest corner of the chicago TCA. There are 2 factors in this situation in believe explain my problem. One, I was tired from a restless night of sleep. Secondly, the navigation/LORAN C switch for my HSI was in the LORAN C position. I was not tracking to jot-V as I thought, but rather going directly to arrival.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: POSSIBLY ENTERED ORD TCA.

Narrative: WE DEPARTED EARLY FROM MZZ FOR A FLT I HAD MADE MANY TIMES BEFORE, BOTH VFR AND IFR. NORMAL PROC WAS TO GO DIRECT TO EON VFR, THEN DIRECT TO JOT VFR, THEN DIRECT TO DEST, ARR. THIS PARTICULAR FLT WAS VFR AND I PROCEEDED AS STATED ABOVE. ABOUT 20 MI FROM EON, I SWITCHED OVER TO JOT ON MY NAV RECEIVER. AT THE SAME TIME I DIALED IN ARR IN MY LORAN C. SOME MINS LATER I LOOKED DOWN AND NOTICED OTHER GND POINTS THAN WHAT I WAS USED TO SEEING ON THAT RTE. UNSURE OF MY POS, I IMMEDIATELY MADE A LEFT TURN TO THE W AND DSNDED BELOW 3500' MSL AND CONTINUED ON MY WAY. LOOKING BACK LATER I REALIZED I MAY HAVE FLOWN THROUGH THE SW CORNER OF THE CHICAGO TCA. THERE ARE 2 FACTORS IN THIS SITUATION IN BELIEVE EXPLAIN MY PROB. ONE, I WAS TIRED FROM A RESTLESS NIGHT OF SLEEP. SECONDLY, THE NAV/LORAN C SWITCH FOR MY HSI WAS IN THE LORAN C POS. I WAS NOT TRACKING TO JOT-V AS I THOUGHT, BUT RATHER GOING DIRECTLY TO ARR.

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.