Unauthorized uncoordinated penetration of airspace.

Attributes
ACN	151712
Time
Date	199007
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : cef
State Reference	MA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw tracon : bdl tower : hya tower : cef
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 325 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	151712
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Left 0b6 for trip home to baf. WX was 3 mi fog and haze. I was following the coastline toward pvd. Reached for map on coplts seat and aircraft banked to the right. With no horizon visible I did not correct as fast as I could have. I was parallel with hya at the time and was told by center that I had entered the air traffic area and that they had just reported 2.5 mi visibility (IMC) and to get clear as soon as possible. I continued the trip with airports en route reporting 3-4 mi visibility. 10 mi from destination I was in contact with bdl approach getting flight following. I told them I would like to descend to 2500'. All they said was 'maintain VFR at all times' next thing I know I am over westover air base in their air traffic area. Bdl then told me about it and had me contact their tower. Bad judgement and the need to get home was the reason for the flight; however, the next time I will rent a car. 3 mi visibility is not WX for a VFR pilot except for very short hops (like about 3-5 mi) in very familiar terrain. Even then it is doubtful on the judgement of the pilot. As for me: never again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNAUTH UNCOORDINATED PENETRATION OF AIRSPACE.

Narrative: LEFT 0B6 FOR TRIP HOME TO BAF. WX WAS 3 MI FOG AND HAZE. I WAS FOLLOWING THE COASTLINE TOWARD PVD. REACHED FOR MAP ON COPLTS SEAT AND ACFT BANKED TO THE RIGHT. WITH NO HORIZON VISIBLE I DID NOT CORRECT AS FAST AS I COULD HAVE. I WAS PARALLEL WITH HYA AT THE TIME AND WAS TOLD BY CENTER THAT I HAD ENTERED THE ATA AND THAT THEY HAD JUST RPTED 2.5 MI VISIBILITY (IMC) AND TO GET CLR ASAP. I CONTINUED THE TRIP WITH ARPTS ENRTE RPTING 3-4 MI VISIBILITY. 10 MI FROM DEST I WAS IN CONTACT WITH BDL APCH GETTING FLT FOLLOWING. I TOLD THEM I WOULD LIKE TO DSND TO 2500'. ALL THEY SAID WAS 'MAINTAIN VFR AT ALL TIMES' NEXT THING I KNOW I AM OVER WESTOVER AIR BASE IN THEIR ATA. BDL THEN TOLD ME ABOUT IT AND HAD ME CONTACT THEIR TWR. BAD JUDGEMENT AND THE NEED TO GET HOME WAS THE REASON FOR THE FLT; HOWEVER, THE NEXT TIME I WILL RENT A CAR. 3 MI VISIBILITY IS NOT WX FOR A VFR PLT EXCEPT FOR VERY SHORT HOPS (LIKE ABOUT 3-5 MI) IN VERY FAMILIAR TERRAIN. EVEN THEN IT IS DOUBTFUL ON THE JUDGEMENT OF THE PLT. AS FOR ME: NEVER AGAIN.

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.