PA28 pilot did not activate transponder.

Attributes
ACN	449460
Time
Date	199909
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : gai.airport
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl single value : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other ndb
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : initial cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 590 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	449460
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I departed cts with a fuel stop planned at gai. Normally, I turn my transponder on altitude at start-up. However, because I was in class B airspace at startup, I left it at standby (I had read to do this to reduce congestion on scope). I may have flown on standby from cgs to gai. Upon restart at gai, I did depart on standby. I realized the problem during flight and immediately switched transponder to altitude.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 PLT DID NOT ACTIVATE XPONDER.

Narrative: I DEPARTED CTS WITH A FUEL STOP PLANNED AT GAI. NORMALLY, I TURN MY XPONDER ON ALT AT START-UP. HOWEVER, BECAUSE I WAS IN CLASS B AIRSPACE AT STARTUP, I LEFT IT AT STANDBY (I HAD READ TO DO THIS TO REDUCE CONGESTION ON SCOPE). I MAY HAVE FLOWN ON STANDBY FROM CGS TO GAI. UPON RESTART AT GAI, I DID DEPART ON STANDBY. I REALIZED THE PROB DURING FLT AND IMMEDIATELY SWITCHED XPONDER TO ALT.

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.