Narrative:

After a VFR day flight I returned to my home field. About 10 mi out I tuned the AWOS and was surprised to learn that the field was closed due to an air show demonstration. Since I had 30 mins to pass before the field re-opened, I decided to divert to an alternate and wait it out on the ground. In order to get this alternate I needed to thread my way between a restr area and my home field's air traffic area. During this time, I think I inadvertently strayed into the air traffic area. As I was heading out of this area I noticed that the aircraft performing the demonstration flight was at my altitude and headed for me. I veered right, as did he and we probably passed within 1 mi of each other. 2 main factors had bearing on this incident. First of all, I fully expected to compete my flight at my home airport. I wasn't prepared to divert to an alternate. I had received a complete preflight briefing, including NOTAMS, and no mention was made of the field closing. I was advised that the air show demos would be going on throughout the day and expected to be extra vigilant on arrival. Second, although I have almost 400 hours, I have been out of flying for the past 11 yrs. I only recently passed my BFR and rejoined the flying community. This was my first trip without an instructor.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA DIVERTING DUE TO ARPT CLOSURE FOR AIRSHOW ENTERS ATA WITHOUT CLRNC. CLOSE PROX TO PERFORMING ACFT.

Narrative: AFTER A VFR DAY FLT I RETURNED TO MY HOME FIELD. ABOUT 10 MI OUT I TUNED THE AWOS AND WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT THE FIELD WAS CLOSED DUE TO AN AIR SHOW DEMO. SINCE I HAD 30 MINS TO PASS BEFORE THE FIELD RE-OPENED, I DECIDED TO DIVERT TO AN ALTERNATE AND WAIT IT OUT ON THE GND. IN ORDER TO GET THIS ALTERNATE I NEEDED TO THREAD MY WAY BTWN A RESTR AREA AND MY HOME FIELD'S ATA. DURING THIS TIME, I THINK I INADVERTENTLY STRAYED INTO THE ATA. AS I WAS HDG OUT OF THIS AREA I NOTICED THAT THE ACFT PERFORMING THE DEMO FLT WAS AT MY ALT AND HEADED FOR ME. I VEERED R, AS DID HE AND WE PROBABLY PASSED WITHIN 1 MI OF EACH OTHER. 2 MAIN FACTORS HAD BEARING ON THIS INCIDENT. FIRST OF ALL, I FULLY EXPECTED TO COMPETE MY FLT AT MY HOME ARPT. I WASN'T PREPARED TO DIVERT TO AN ALTERNATE. I HAD RECEIVED A COMPLETE PREFLT BRIEFING, INCLUDING NOTAMS, AND NO MENTION WAS MADE OF THE FIELD CLOSING. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE AIR SHOW DEMOS WOULD BE GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND EXPECTED TO BE EXTRA VIGILANT ON ARR. SECOND, ALTHOUGH I HAVE ALMOST 400 HRS, I HAVE BEEN OUT OF FLYING FOR THE PAST 11 YRS. I ONLY RECENTLY PASSED MY BFR AND REJOINED THE FLYING COMMUNITY. THIS WAS MY FIRST TRIP WITHOUT AN INSTRUCTOR.

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.