Unauthorized penetration of airspace -- disputed.

Attributes
ACN	297447
Time
Date	199502
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dmn
State Reference	NM
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8500 msl bound upper : 8500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-34-200 Seneca I
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 7500 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	297447
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Departed elp XA25 local. Handed off to ZAB approximately XA40 local. Approximately XA55 requested frequency change to flight watch to update WX information on observed area of convective activity. When returned to ZAB frequency (XB00 local), was advised 'not in radar contact, but in R-5115.' requested vector from r- 5115, ZAB unable due to lack of radar contact. Observation balloon, cable, and associated airport were in view for at least 20 NM. Seneca passed at least 5 NM northeast (well clear of R-5115). Advised by ZAB of possible pilot deviation. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter was flying a piper seneca I PA34-200 and was in center radar contact when he went off frequency to talk to flight watch. During this time off frequency, he remained clear of the restr area which was clearly visible to him. The center told him that he was not in radar contact when he returned to the center frequency. Additionally the controller told him that he was in the restr area. When further queried, the controller told him that he was now in radar contact and that he was not in the restr area. The reporter said that he was confused by the controller's statements and that he was not sure if the controller was filing a violation or error against him. The reporter says that he was sure of his position, both by visual and VORTAC means and he did not enter the restr area.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNAUTH PENETRATION OF AIRSPACE -- DISPUTED.

Narrative: DEPARTED ELP XA25 LCL. HANDED OFF TO ZAB APPROX XA40 LCL. APPROX XA55 REQUESTED FREQ CHANGE TO FLT WATCH TO UPDATE WX INFO ON OBSERVED AREA OF CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY. WHEN RETURNED TO ZAB FREQ (XB00 LCL), WAS ADVISED 'NOT IN RADAR CONTACT, BUT IN R-5115.' REQUESTED VECTOR FROM R- 5115, ZAB UNABLE DUE TO LACK OF RADAR CONTACT. OBSERVATION BALLOON, CABLE, AND ASSOCIATED ARPT WERE IN VIEW FOR AT LEAST 20 NM. SENECA PASSED AT LEAST 5 NM NE (WELL CLR OF R-5115). ADVISED BY ZAB OF POSSIBLE PLTDEV. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR WAS FLYING A PIPER SENECA I PA34-200 AND WAS IN CTR RADAR CONTACT WHEN HE WENT OFF FREQ TO TALK TO FLT WATCH. DURING THIS TIME OFF FREQ, HE REMAINED CLEAR OF THE RESTR AREA WHICH WAS CLRLY VISIBLE TO HIM. THE CTR TOLD HIM THAT HE WAS NOT IN RADAR CONTACT WHEN HE RETURNED TO THE CTR FREQ. ADDITIONALLY THE CTLR TOLD HIM THAT HE WAS IN THE RESTR AREA. WHEN FURTHER QUERIED, THE CTLR TOLD HIM THAT HE WAS NOW IN RADAR CONTACT AND THAT HE WAS NOT IN THE RESTR AREA. THE RPTR SAID THAT HE WAS CONFUSED BY THE CTLR'S STATEMENTS AND THAT HE WAS NOT SURE IF THE CTLR WAS FILING A VIOLATION OR ERROR AGAINST HIM. THE RPTR SAYS THAT HE WAS SURE OF HIS POS, BOTH BY VISUAL AND VORTAC MEANS AND HE DID NOT ENTER THE RESTR AREA.

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.