<< >> NASA ASRS Report 159516, October 1990

Track deviation noted by center controller as small aircraft makes unauthorized penetration of airspace south of the border.

Attributes
ACN	159516
Time
Date	199010
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : cus
State Reference	NM
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11500 msl bound upper : 11500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zab
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 29800 flight time type : 90
ASRS Report	159516
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : exited penetrated airspace other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Navigating to elp via V66, both VOR receivers in operation. 078 degree right cus to 259 degree right of elp. ZAB advised was 1 1/2-2 mi in mexican airspace. Both VOR needles were centered. Immediately began course correction to north (off arwy to me). ZAB answered no problem. Didn't know about customs, however. Far 71.5 B1 stipulates arwy dimension of 4 mi either side of centerline between VOR's. Mexican border between cus/elp is 2 NM south of centerline. Given allowable tolerance on VOR receiver checks, one could be within the confines of the arwy and in mexico simultaneously! Suggestion: 1) dogleg the arwy to the north. 2) move mexican border south.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TRACK DEVIATION NOTED BY CENTER CTLR AS SMA MAKES UNAUTH PENETRATION OF AIRSPACE SOUTH OF THE BORDER.

Narrative: NAVIGATING TO ELP VIA V66, BOTH VOR RECEIVERS IN OPERATION. 078 DEG R CUS TO 259 DEG R OF ELP. ZAB ADVISED WAS 1 1/2-2 MI IN MEXICAN AIRSPACE. BOTH VOR NEEDLES WERE CENTERED. IMMEDIATELY BEGAN COURSE CORRECTION TO N (OFF ARWY TO ME). ZAB ANSWERED NO PROB. DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT CUSTOMS, HOWEVER. FAR 71.5 B1 STIPULATES ARWY DIMENSION OF 4 MI EITHER SIDE OF CENTERLINE BTWN VOR'S. MEXICAN BORDER BTWN CUS/ELP IS 2 NM S OF CENTERLINE. GIVEN ALLOWABLE TOLERANCE ON VOR RECEIVER CHKS, ONE COULD BE WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE ARWY AND IN MEXICO SIMULTANEOUSLY! SUGGESTION: 1) DOGLEG THE ARWY TO THE N. 2) MOVE MEXICAN BORDER S.

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.