Narrative:

While flying 6 passenger from whitmore, az (1z1), to marble canyon, az (L41), I flew my aircraft too close to a forest fire. As I approached the fire area, I realized I would not be able to maintain my original heading due to smoke from the fire. I flew south to parallel the smoke and ash, keeping a distance of 5-10 mi abeam the area. As I approached the edge of the smoke, I monitored the appropriate frequency of 123.05. This is the frequency on which the fire bombers communicate with the recon aircraft. I heard the bomber say he was leaving the area for approximately 30 mins. As I saw the bomber fly off, I crossed the area on the south side of the fire. I climbed to 10000 ft MSL to avoid any other traffic. I avoided the smoke area by passing on the upwind side. As I was leaving the area, the air recon plane called to me on 123.05. I responded, he did not answer. I then decided to call him, and he did not respond. He then flew up next to me, and then flew away. I realized then I had probably flown too close to their operation. I should have checked with FSS to find out exactly the airspace that was involved.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SIX PLACE ACFT ON CHARTER FLT COMES IN CLOSE PROX TO AND POSSIBLY ENTERING A TEMPORARY RESTR AREA AROUND A FIRE. ERROR ADMITTED.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING 6 PAX FROM WHITMORE, AZ (1Z1), TO MARBLE CANYON, AZ (L41), I FLEW MY ACFT TOO CLOSE TO A FOREST FIRE. AS I APCHED THE FIRE AREA, I REALIZED I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN MY ORIGINAL HDG DUE TO SMOKE FROM THE FIRE. I FLEW S TO PARALLEL THE SMOKE AND ASH, KEEPING A DISTANCE OF 5-10 MI ABEAM THE AREA. AS I APCHED THE EDGE OF THE SMOKE, I MONITORED THE APPROPRIATE FREQ OF 123.05. THIS IS THE FREQ ON WHICH THE FIRE BOMBERS COMMUNICATE WITH THE RECON ACFT. I HEARD THE BOMBER SAY HE WAS LEAVING THE AREA FOR APPROX 30 MINS. AS I SAW THE BOMBER FLY OFF, I CROSSED THE AREA ON THE S SIDE OF THE FIRE. I CLBED TO 10000 FT MSL TO AVOID ANY OTHER TFC. I AVOIDED THE SMOKE AREA BY PASSING ON THE UPWIND SIDE. AS I WAS LEAVING THE AREA, THE AIR RECON PLANE CALLED TO ME ON 123.05. I RESPONDED, HE DID NOT ANSWER. I THEN DECIDED TO CALL HIM, AND HE DID NOT RESPOND. HE THEN FLEW UP NEXT TO ME, AND THEN FLEW AWAY. I REALIZED THEN I HAD PROBABLY FLOWN TOO CLOSE TO THEIR OP. I SHOULD HAVE CHKED WITH FSS TO FIND OUT EXACTLY THE AIRSPACE THAT WAS INVOLVED.

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.