Unauthorized penetration of arsa by small aircraft pilot in a night operation.

Attributes
ACN	183228
Time
Date	199107
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : buf airport : 9g0
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : buf tower : buf tower : stl
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 300 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	183228
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Reporter was on way to 9g0 but sighted and began approach to buf, thus entering the buf arsa and air traffic area without clearance. Upon realizing his mistake, he departed the arsa and proceeded to 9g0 where he discovered that its rotating beacon was inoperative and the lights on one side of the runway were also inoperative. Buf TRACON had given him vectors to 9g0. Unable to land, buf offered service to let him land at buf which he accepted. He had turned the volume down and thus lost contact with buf approach control prior to entering the arsa. Also, he got lost when he used pilotage to fly to the rotating beacon he saw which proved to be buf rather than the intended 9g0. He complains that it is impossible to tell a major airport from a smaller one at night because their beacons are identical. Suggests different beacons so that the type of airport could be determined and also that the beacons turn faster so that there is a shorter 'lights out' interval between flashes.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNAUTHORIZED PENETRATION OF ARSA BY SMA PLT IN A NIGHT OPERATION.

Narrative: RPTR WAS ON WAY TO 9G0 BUT SIGHTED AND BEGAN APCH TO BUF, THUS ENTERING THE BUF ARSA AND ATA WITHOUT CLRNC. UPON REALIZING HIS MISTAKE, HE DEPARTED THE ARSA AND PROCEEDED TO 9G0 WHERE HE DISCOVERED THAT ITS ROTATING BEACON WAS INOP AND THE LIGHTS ON ONE SIDE OF THE RWY WERE ALSO INOP. BUF TRACON HAD GIVEN HIM VECTORS TO 9G0. UNABLE TO LAND, BUF OFFERED SERVICE TO LET HIM LAND AT BUF WHICH HE ACCEPTED. HE HAD TURNED THE VOLUME DOWN AND THUS LOST CONTACT WITH BUF APCH CTL PRIOR TO ENTERING THE ARSA. ALSO, HE GOT LOST WHEN HE USED PILOTAGE TO FLY TO THE ROTATING BEACON HE SAW WHICH PROVED TO BE BUF RATHER THAN THE INTENDED 9G0. HE COMPLAINS THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL A MAJOR ARPT FROM A SMALLER ONE AT NIGHT BECAUSE THEIR BEACONS ARE IDENTICAL. SUGGESTS DIFFERENT BEACONS SO THAT THE TYPE OF ARPT COULD BE DETERMINED AND ALSO THAT THE BEACONS TURN FASTER SO THAT THERE IS A SHORTER 'LIGHTS OUT' INTERVAL BTWN FLASHES.

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.