Small aircraft has unauthorized penetration of airspace due to lost communication.

Attributes
ACN	308110
Time
Date	199506
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ggg
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1800 msl bound upper : 1800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ggg tower : ggg
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 475 flight time type : 360
ASRS Report	308110
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was on a VFR flight plan from pbf to F12 (rusk co). While en route I decided to land at gregg county instead, as rusk's FBO would be closed before I arrived. I tuned in GGG's ATIS approximately 25 NM out, and heard nothing. I began trying to contact GGG approach control about 20 mi out, but received no response and heard no xmissions. I then tried the tower frequency and again heard nothing. While attempting to diagnose the radio problem I inadvertently flew within 4.7 mi of GGG, violating the class D airspace. When I realized my error, I immediately turned away from the airport and diverted to gladwater, tx. I believe the causes of the problem were as follows: radio not functioning properly. Since I had used the radio at the previous landing point (pbf) to activate my flight plan, I had no reason to believe it would malfunction. The test button showed the squelch to be functioning properly. I believe that the problem was caused by shifting baggage having dislocated the antenna wire, causing it to become disconnected. Pilot's unfamiliarity with the area. Pilot fatigue, causing inattn to position while being distracted by a radio problem and having to find a new destination to divert to. Lessons learned -- secure antenna cable so it can't be disconnected by shifting baggage, pay closer attention to position when in the vicinity of a controled field.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA HAS UNAUTH PENETRATION OF AIRSPACE DUE TO LOST COM.

Narrative: I WAS ON A VFR FLT PLAN FROM PBF TO F12 (RUSK CO). WHILE ENRTE I DECIDED TO LAND AT GREGG COUNTY INSTEAD, AS RUSK'S FBO WOULD BE CLOSED BEFORE I ARRIVED. I TUNED IN GGG'S ATIS APPROX 25 NM OUT, AND HEARD NOTHING. I BEGAN TRYING TO CONTACT GGG APCH CTL ABOUT 20 MI OUT, BUT RECEIVED NO RESPONSE AND HEARD NO XMISSIONS. I THEN TRIED THE TWR FREQ AND AGAIN HEARD NOTHING. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DIAGNOSE THE RADIO PROB I INADVERTENTLY FLEW WITHIN 4.7 MI OF GGG, VIOLATING THE CLASS D AIRSPACE. WHEN I REALIZED MY ERROR, I IMMEDIATELY TURNED AWAY FROM THE ARPT AND DIVERTED TO GLADWATER, TX. I BELIEVE THE CAUSES OF THE PROB WERE AS FOLLOWS: RADIO NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. SINCE I HAD USED THE RADIO AT THE PREVIOUS LNDG POINT (PBF) TO ACTIVATE MY FLT PLAN, I HAD NO REASON TO BELIEVE IT WOULD MALFUNCTION. THE TEST BUTTON SHOWED THE SQUELCH TO BE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. I BELIEVE THAT THE PROB WAS CAUSED BY SHIFTING BAGGAGE HAVING DISLOCATED THE ANTENNA WIRE, CAUSING IT TO BECOME DISCONNECTED. PLT'S UNFAMILIARITY WITH THE AREA. PLT FATIGUE, CAUSING INATTN TO POS WHILE BEING DISTRACTED BY A RADIO PROB AND HAVING TO FIND A NEW DEST TO DIVERT TO. LESSONS LEARNED -- SECURE ANTENNA CABLE SO IT CAN'T BE DISCONNECTED BY SHIFTING BAGGAGE, PAY CLOSER ATTN TO POS WHEN IN THE VICINITY OF A CTLED FIELD.

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.