Small aircraft pilot using standard left-hand pattern at uncontrolled field informed of aerobatic co...

Attributes
ACN	147459
Time
Date	199006
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : n71
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1300 msl bound upper : 1300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : baf
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 9 flight time total : 771 flight time type : 559
ASRS Report	147459
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : observer other personnel other
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was circling airport to the left to enter downwind leg for runway 27 at donegal air park, at mount joy-marietta, PA after contacting the airport. Shortly afterward I was advised there was an aerobatic competition in progress and I should have entered the pattern from the right side of the field. After landing, I told one of the officials that for the past few yrs I have used the field for service to my plane. He told me that he would talk to the FAA man on the field about it, and since it was not deliberate, he saw no trouble. Looking back I failed to check the NOTAM, since it was a short flight to a familiar field. In the future, regardless of the duration of the flight I will prepare for it in every respect.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT USING STANDARD LEFT-HAND PATTERN AT UNCONTROLLED FIELD INFORMED OF AEROBATIC COMPETITION IN PROGRESS.

Narrative: I WAS CIRCLING ARPT TO THE LEFT TO ENTER DOWNWIND LEG FOR RWY 27 AT DONEGAL AIR PARK, AT MOUNT JOY-MARIETTA, PA AFTER CONTACTING THE ARPT. SHORTLY AFTERWARD I WAS ADVISED THERE WAS AN AEROBATIC COMPETITION IN PROGRESS AND I SHOULD HAVE ENTERED THE PATTERN FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FIELD. AFTER LNDG, I TOLD ONE OF THE OFFICIALS THAT FOR THE PAST FEW YRS I HAVE USED THE FIELD FOR SVC TO MY PLANE. HE TOLD ME THAT HE WOULD TALK TO THE FAA MAN ON THE FIELD ABOUT IT, AND SINCE IT WAS NOT DELIBERATE, HE SAW NO TROUBLE. LOOKING BACK I FAILED TO CHK THE NOTAM, SINCE IT WAS A SHORT FLT TO A FAMILIAR FIELD. IN THE FUTURE, REGARDLESS OF THE DURATION OF THE FLT I WILL PREPARE FOR IT IN EVERY RESPECT.

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.

Small aircraft pilot using standard left-hand pattern at uncontrolled field informed of aerobatic competition in progress.