Narrative:

I departed 7k0 on a return flight back to mgy. Since the WX was clear I decided to do the flight VFR. I leveled off at 4500' in the small transport, where we were getting moderate turbulence, and decided to climb to 6500'. Knowing that my flight would bring me through restr area 5503A at that altitude, I set up the LORAN for west union, oh, which was south of the restr area. I also set up the ADF for extra backup. Since the base of the restr area if 4500', I knew that if I was to be low 4500' by west union, I would be clear. So 8 mi south of west union, I started my descent (which was approved by ZID). I verified with center that the restr area was hot and leveled off before west union at 4400'. The reason for the odd altitude was that there is a MOA below the restr area (surface up to 4000'), so I thought the safest place was in between them both. After passing underneath the restr area and past the opp side, ZID handed me off to the next controller. This controller informed me that he showed me pass through the confines of the restr area. I told him that I was below 4500' (the base of the area) and should never have flown through it. He responded that I must stay 500' from the restr area (4000'), which did not make any sense to me, nor to 3 other pilots I talked to. I looked up as much as I could in the far's and still believe to be correct. I also decided to send in this form. Although this situation isn't something you want to happen, I did learn 1 thing: even if you know a restr area is hot and prepare to go below it, the best way through a restr area is around it.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: IN ATTEMPTING TO STAY BELOW A RESTRICTED AREA AND ABOVE AN MOA, AN ATX PLT VIOLATED THE ALT HEADING RULE FOR VFR FLT.

Narrative: I DEPARTED 7K0 ON A RETURN FLT BACK TO MGY. SINCE THE WX WAS CLR I DECIDED TO DO THE FLT VFR. I LEVELED OFF AT 4500' IN THE SMT, WHERE WE WERE GETTING MODERATE TURB, AND DECIDED TO CLB TO 6500'. KNOWING THAT MY FLT WOULD BRING ME THROUGH RESTR AREA 5503A AT THAT ALT, I SET UP THE LORAN FOR W UNION, OH, WHICH WAS S OF THE RESTR AREA. I ALSO SET UP THE ADF FOR EXTRA BACKUP. SINCE THE BASE OF THE RESTR AREA IF 4500', I KNEW THAT IF I WAS TO BE LOW 4500' BY W UNION, I WOULD BE CLR. SO 8 MI S OF W UNION, I STARTED MY DSNT (WHICH WAS APPROVED BY ZID). I VERIFIED WITH CENTER THAT THE RESTR AREA WAS HOT AND LEVELED OFF BEFORE W UNION AT 4400'. THE REASON FOR THE ODD ALT WAS THAT THERE IS A MOA BELOW THE RESTR AREA (SURFACE UP TO 4000'), SO I THOUGHT THE SAFEST PLACE WAS IN BTWN THEM BOTH. AFTER PASSING UNDERNEATH THE RESTR AREA AND PAST THE OPP SIDE, ZID HANDED ME OFF TO THE NEXT CTLR. THIS CTLR INFORMED ME THAT HE SHOWED ME PASS THROUGH THE CONFINES OF THE RESTR AREA. I TOLD HIM THAT I WAS BELOW 4500' (THE BASE OF THE AREA) AND SHOULD NEVER HAVE FLOWN THROUGH IT. HE RESPONDED THAT I MUST STAY 500' FROM THE RESTR AREA (4000'), WHICH DID NOT MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME, NOR TO 3 OTHER PLTS I TALKED TO. I LOOKED UP AS MUCH AS I COULD IN THE FAR'S AND STILL BELIEVE TO BE CORRECT. I ALSO DECIDED TO SEND IN THIS FORM. ALTHOUGH THIS SITUATION ISN'T SOMETHING YOU WANT TO HAPPEN, I DID LEARN 1 THING: EVEN IF YOU KNOW A RESTR AREA IS HOT AND PREPARE TO GO BELOW IT, THE BEST WAY THROUGH A RESTR AREA IS AROUND IT.

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.