Pilot of lancair 4 using GPS enters class C airspace without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	369193
Time
Date	199705
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : vny
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4500 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bur
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Experimental
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	369193
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Entered bur class C inadvertently. Was using new GPS hand-held and having trouble with it. Should have used vors as backup to prevent incursion. Lack of ground reference was a problem also -- all the more reason for a backup. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter states this is a very difficult area in which to operate with the proximity of lax class B and bur class B airspace. He would normally have used the lax VOR as his NAVAID check but was trying to learn the GPS hand-held operations. Reporter has a GPS installed in the aircraft but purchased the hand-held unit for his wife to use. She is not a pilot, but likes to keep aware of position en route and has used the hand-held more than reporter. He was alone at the time of the incident. The aircraft is an experimental lancair 4.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF LANCAIR 4 USING GPS ENTERS CLASS C AIRSPACE WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: ENTERED BUR CLASS C INADVERTENTLY. WAS USING NEW GPS HAND-HELD AND HAVING TROUBLE WITH IT. SHOULD HAVE USED VORS AS BACKUP TO PREVENT INCURSION. LACK OF GND REF WAS A PROB ALSO -- ALL THE MORE REASON FOR A BACKUP. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT AREA IN WHICH TO OPERATE WITH THE PROX OF LAX CLASS B AND BUR CLASS B AIRSPACE. HE WOULD NORMALLY HAVE USED THE LAX VOR AS HIS NAVAID CHK BUT WAS TRYING TO LEARN THE GPS HAND-HELD OPS. RPTR HAS A GPS INSTALLED IN THE ACFT BUT PURCHASED THE HAND-HELD UNIT FOR HIS WIFE TO USE. SHE IS NOT A PLT, BUT LIKES TO KEEP AWARE OF POS ENRTE AND HAS USED THE HAND-HELD MORE THAN RPTR. HE WAS ALONE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE ACFT IS AN EXPERIMENTAL LANCAIR 4.

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.