The #2 pilot in a flight of 3 AT6's thinks that his formation might have strayed into R2504.

Attributes
ACN	358090
Time
Date	199701
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bsr
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5500 msl bound upper : 5500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Texan T6 Harvard
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
ASRS Report	358090
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were a flight of 3 AT6's practicing close formation while en route from northern to southern california. I was #2 aircraft in formation. Each aircraft had a backseater qualified and current in type. For obvious reasons, each PF's attention is focused intensely on lead (#1 aircraft). During our maneuvering, one of the crew mentioned a restr area was nearby. Thinking lead was monitoring navigation per our briefing, he was asked to verify our position and he assured us he had it 'under control.' during our debrief, I felt we may have strayed into R2504. 2 additional precautions could have been taken to prevent this situation from occurring: 1) all crew (including those along for the ride) should be thoroughly briefed on the flight, including sua. 2) all non flying crew should be provided a chart and asked to back up the lead as he, too, can get overloaded. Lead may have the responsibility, but everyone is along for the ride.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: THE #2 PLT IN A FLT OF 3 AT6'S THINKS THAT HIS FORMATION MIGHT HAVE STRAYED INTO R2504.

Narrative: WE WERE A FLT OF 3 AT6'S PRACTICING CLOSE FORMATION WHILE ENRTE FROM NORTHERN TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. I WAS #2 ACFT IN FORMATION. EACH ACFT HAD A BACKSEATER QUALIFIED AND CURRENT IN TYPE. FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, EACH PF'S ATTN IS FOCUSED INTENSELY ON LEAD (#1 ACFT). DURING OUR MANEUVERING, ONE OF THE CREW MENTIONED A RESTR AREA WAS NEARBY. THINKING LEAD WAS MONITORING NAV PER OUR BRIEFING, HE WAS ASKED TO VERIFY OUR POS AND HE ASSURED US HE HAD IT 'UNDER CTL.' DURING OUR DEBRIEF, I FELT WE MAY HAVE STRAYED INTO R2504. 2 ADDITIONAL PRECAUTIONS COULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO PREVENT THIS SIT FROM OCCURRING: 1) ALL CREW (INCLUDING THOSE ALONG FOR THE RIDE) SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY BRIEFED ON THE FLT, INCLUDING SUA. 2) ALL NON FLYING CREW SHOULD BE PROVIDED A CHART AND ASKED TO BACK UP THE LEAD AS HE, TOO, CAN GET OVERLOADED. LEAD MAY HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY, BUT EVERYONE IS ALONG FOR THE RIDE.

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.