Unauthorized penetration of control zone class D airspace.

Attributes
ACN	299980
Time
Date	199503
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mht
State Reference	NH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mht
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 6 flight time total : 555 flight time type : 470
ASRS Report	299980
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited penetrated airspace other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Contacted manchester approach control 30 mi south of mht - active runways were runways 35 and 6 altitude 2800 ft MSL. Radar contact, advised to descend to 2500 ft MSL. (Confirmed) heading 360 degrees straight in for runway 35. Pilot questioned by controller as to maximum speed - then told to turn left to 330 degree for runway 6 due to landing heavy traffic (heading change confirmed by pilot). Approximately 15 NM wsw of airport traffic controller tells pilot to descend to 2000 ft MSL. (Pilot confirms altitude change). Aircraft equipment altitude reporting transponder and DME. Approximately 7 mi from airport, pilot was told he was supposed to be at 2500 ft not at 2000 ft MSL. I was told that the controller had not give me a change in altitude and that I had violated class D airspace. I was further told that if I was in doubt I should have re-questioned the controller. (I did repeat the instructions to the controller prior to making the altitude change. I did not get back a negative response). I was then told to climb back to 2500 ft MSL and to contact mht tower on landing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNAUTH PENETRATION OF CTL ZONE CLASS D AIRSPACE.

Narrative: CONTACTED MANCHESTER APCH CTL 30 MI S OF MHT - ACTIVE RWYS WERE RWYS 35 AND 6 ALT 2800 FT MSL. RADAR CONTACT, ADVISED TO DSND TO 2500 FT MSL. (CONFIRMED) HDG 360 DEGS STRAIGHT IN FOR RWY 35. PLT QUESTIONED BY CTLR AS TO MAX SPD - THEN TOLD TO TURN L TO 330 DEG FOR RWY 6 DUE TO LNDG HVY TFC (HDG CHANGE CONFIRMED BY PLT). APPROX 15 NM WSW OF ARPT TFC CTLR TELLS PLT TO DSND TO 2000 FT MSL. (PLT CONFIRMS ALT CHANGE). ACFT EQUIP ALT RPTING XPONDER AND DME. APPROX 7 MI FROM ARPT, PLT WAS TOLD HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AT 2500 FT NOT AT 2000 FT MSL. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CTLR HAD NOT GIVE ME A CHANGE IN ALT AND THAT I HAD VIOLATED CLASS D AIRSPACE. I WAS FURTHER TOLD THAT IF I WAS IN DOUBT I SHOULD HAVE RE-QUESTIONED THE CTLR. (I DID REPEAT THE INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CTLR PRIOR TO MAKING THE ALT CHANGE. I DID NOT GET BACK A NEGATIVE RESPONSE). I WAS THEN TOLD TO CLB BACK TO 2500 FT MSL AND TO CONTACT MHT TWR ON LNDG.

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.