GA small aircraft unauthorized entry into hvn air traffic area and unauthorized landing and takeoff ...

Attributes
ACN	159429
Time
Date	199010
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hvn
State Reference	CT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 0 msl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : hvn
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other landing other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 1300
ASRS Report	159429
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	incursion : landing without clearance incursion : runway non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Prior to entry into the hvn air traffic area for landing, I made at least 6 unsuccessful attempts to make radio contact with hvn tower. Hearing no response, I assumed it was closed. I visually determined the appropriate runways and landed. On the ground, I unsuccessfully attempted to radio airport personnel via unicom. I did not notice light-gun signals. After a brief stop, I took off for my home base, hpn. When I contacted nearby bdr tower for clearance through bdr air traffic area, bdr relayed a hvn request for me to radio hvn tower. This time I did make contact. Hvn said the tower had been open, their radio working properly and that unsuccessful light-gun signals were made. I believe either my radio malfunctioned or I inadvertently set the wrong frequency for hvn tower. I believe my lack of exposure to such a situation contributed to may failure to look for light-gun signals. Failure to question initial assumptions doubtless played an important role also. I intend to have my radios checked out and discuss this fully with an instrument with a view toward practice and review of preventive and remedial procedures. I recognize the gravity of this event, which in and of itself has served as an important lesson.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA UNAUTH ENTRY INTO HVN ATA AND UNAUTH LNDG AND TKOF FROM HVN.

Narrative: PRIOR TO ENTRY INTO THE HVN ATA FOR LNDG, I MADE AT LEAST 6 UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO MAKE RADIO CONTACT WITH HVN TWR. HEARING NO RESPONSE, I ASSUMED IT WAS CLOSED. I VISUALLY DETERMINED THE APPROPRIATE RWYS AND LANDED. ON THE GND, I UNSUCCESSFULLY ATTEMPTED TO RADIO ARPT PERSONNEL VIA UNICOM. I DID NOT NOTICE LIGHT-GUN SIGNALS. AFTER A BRIEF STOP, I TOOK OFF FOR MY HOME BASE, HPN. WHEN I CONTACTED NEARBY BDR TWR FOR CLRNC THROUGH BDR ATA, BDR RELAYED A HVN REQUEST FOR ME TO RADIO HVN TWR. THIS TIME I DID MAKE CONTACT. HVN SAID THE TWR HAD BEEN OPEN, THEIR RADIO WORKING PROPERLY AND THAT UNSUCCESSFUL LIGHT-GUN SIGNALS WERE MADE. I BELIEVE EITHER MY RADIO MALFUNCTIONED OR I INADVERTENTLY SET THE WRONG FREQ FOR HVN TWR. I BELIEVE MY LACK OF EXPOSURE TO SUCH A SITUATION CONTRIBUTED TO MAY FAILURE TO LOOK FOR LIGHT-GUN SIGNALS. FAILURE TO QUESTION INITIAL ASSUMPTIONS DOUBTLESS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE ALSO. I INTEND TO HAVE MY RADIOS CHKED OUT AND DISCUSS THIS FULLY WITH AN INSTR WITH A VIEW TOWARD PRACTICE AND REVIEW OF PREVENTIVE AND REMEDIAL PROCS. I RECOGNIZE THE GRAVITY OF THIS EVENT, WHICH IN AND OF ITSELF HAS SERVED AS AN IMPORTANT LESSON.

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.

GA small aircraft unauthorized entry into hvn air traffic area and unauthorized landing and takeoff from hvn.