PA28 pilot entered mht class C without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	488710
Time
Date	200010
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mht.airport
State Reference	NH
Altitude	msl single value : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mht.tracon
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
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 26 flight time total : 61 flight time type : 6
ASRS Report	488710
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : issued alert flight crew : exited penetrated airspace flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

PA28-161 left nashua airport (ash) bound for sanford, me (sfm). Nashua extremely busy due to special event. Long delay in ability to contact controller (due to radio traffic) for permission to change frequency to manchester (mht). Upon initial contact to manchester approach there was no reply due to controller conversing with another aircraft. PA28-161 continued on course when controller was heard advising other aircraft of incursion. Realizing the PA28-161 was that aircraft, approach was contacted immediately. Controller reminded pilot of class C clearance rules and gave transponder code. All ATC instructions were followed to exit of airspace. Incursion was accidental. Pilot continued on course believing clearance eminent, but ATC delays were prevalent. Correct pilot action would have been to turn away from (mht). Pilot has increased awareness of conditions in high traffic area and future incursions will be avoided with appropriate action. This was pilot's second flight solo into this class of airspace. Experience will increase vigilance and ability to prevent further occurrence.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 PLT ENTERED MHT CLASS C WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: PA28-161 LEFT NASHUA ARPT (ASH) BOUND FOR SANFORD, ME (SFM). NASHUA EXTREMELY BUSY DUE TO SPECIAL EVENT. LONG DELAY IN ABILITY TO CONTACT CTLR (DUE TO RADIO TFC) FOR PERMISSION TO CHANGE FREQ TO MANCHESTER (MHT). UPON INITIAL CONTACT TO MANCHESTER APCH THERE WAS NO REPLY DUE TO CTLR CONVERSING WITH ANOTHER ACFT. PA28-161 CONTINUED ON COURSE WHEN CTLR WAS HEARD ADVISING OTHER ACFT OF INCURSION. REALIZING THE PA28-161 WAS THAT ACFT, APCH WAS CONTACTED IMMEDIATELY. CTLR REMINDED PLT OF CLASS C CLRNC RULES AND GAVE XPONDER CODE. ALL ATC INSTRUCTIONS WERE FOLLOWED TO EXIT OF AIRSPACE. INCURSION WAS ACCIDENTAL. PLT CONTINUED ON COURSE BELIEVING CLRNC EMINENT, BUT ATC DELAYS WERE PREVALENT. CORRECT PLT ACTION WOULD HAVE BEEN TO TURN AWAY FROM (MHT). PLT HAS INCREASED AWARENESS OF CONDITIONS IN HIGH TFC AREA AND FUTURE INCURSIONS WILL BE AVOIDED WITH APPROPRIATE ACTION. THIS WAS PLT'S SECOND FLT SOLO INTO THIS CLASS OF AIRSPACE. EXPERIENCE WILL INCREASE VIGILANCE AND ABILITY TO PREVENT FURTHER OCCURRENCE.

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.