Pilot flew into control zone while using GPS as primary navigation unit.

Attributes
ACN	274035
Time
Date	199406
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : act
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : act
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 11 flight time total : 373 flight time type : 299
ASRS Report	274035
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

First flight with new GPS unit. Learning how to use it. Traveling from ft. Worth, tx, to austin, tx. Conditions hazy, ceiling broken 2500 ft. Set GPS unit to give me 5 mi warning prior to waco VOR (which is 1 mi inside north edge of waco control zone). GPS unit failed to alarm (believe I set it wrong) and did not realize I was as close as I was until I crosschecked with my DME, then noticed outside I was just about over the VOR. Called waco regional and told him where I was and requested transition clearance. He told me I had penetrated the space and transferred me to waco control tower. Tower cleared me through space with no further comments. I'll need to practice more with the GPS away from controled airspace, and keep xchking to other instruments I am currently more familiar with.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT FLEW INTO CTL ZONE WHILE USING GPS AS PRIMARY NAV UNIT.

Narrative: FIRST FLT WITH NEW GPS UNIT. LEARNING HOW TO USE IT. TRAVELING FROM FT. WORTH, TX, TO AUSTIN, TX. CONDITIONS HAZY, CEILING BROKEN 2500 FT. SET GPS UNIT TO GIVE ME 5 MI WARNING PRIOR TO WACO VOR (WHICH IS 1 MI INSIDE N EDGE OF WACO CTL ZONE). GPS UNIT FAILED TO ALARM (BELIEVE I SET IT WRONG) AND DID NOT REALIZE I WAS AS CLOSE AS I WAS UNTIL I XCHKED WITH MY DME, THEN NOTICED OUTSIDE I WAS JUST ABOUT OVER THE VOR. CALLED WACO REGIONAL AND TOLD HIM WHERE I WAS AND REQUESTED TRANSITION CLRNC. HE TOLD ME I HAD PENETRATED THE SPACE AND TRANSFERRED ME TO WACO CTL TWR. TWR CLRED ME THROUGH SPACE WITH NO FURTHER COMMENTS. I'LL NEED TO PRACTICE MORE WITH THE GPS AWAY FROM CTLED AIRSPACE, AND KEEP XCHKING TO OTHER INSTS I AM CURRENTLY MORE FAMILIAR WITH.

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.