2 dhc-6 flcs, preoccupied with a photo mission, violated class D airspace.

Attributes
ACN	494119
Time
Date	200012
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : las.vortac
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : l30.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Twin Otter DHC-6-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : l30.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Twin Otter DHC-6
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 2500 flight time type : 780
ASRS Report	494119
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were operating in las vegas class B airspace on a photo mission. We had a film crew in our airplane and they were filming another airplane. The captain was flying and keeping our airplane in a position to photograph the other airplane. I was communicating with ATC and watching for traffic. ATC called and told us to make a 180 degree turn and that we hadn't been authority/authorized to enter vgt class D airspace. We immediately made a 180 degree turn but still penetrated the vgt class D airspace. I believe the contributing factors were: the captain was preoccupied with keeping a safe distance from the aircraft we were filming, as well as communicating with its crew. I was distraction with ATC communications and watching for other traffic, including traffic alerts from our TCASII. Also, the captain and I did not designate which one of us was responsible for navigation, and keeping us out of airspace which we were not cleared into. I believe if we had discussed this on the preflight briefing, the occurrence would have been prevented.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: 2 DHC-6 FLCS, PREOCCUPIED WITH A PHOTO MISSION, VIOLATED CLASS D AIRSPACE.

Narrative: WE WERE OPERATING IN LAS VEGAS CLASS B AIRSPACE ON A PHOTO MISSION. WE HAD A FILM CREW IN OUR AIRPLANE AND THEY WERE FILMING ANOTHER AIRPLANE. THE CAPT WAS FLYING AND KEEPING OUR AIRPLANE IN A POS TO PHOTOGRAPH THE OTHER AIRPLANE. I WAS COMMUNICATING WITH ATC AND WATCHING FOR TFC. ATC CALLED AND TOLD US TO MAKE A 180 DEG TURN AND THAT WE HADN'T BEEN AUTH TO ENTER VGT CLASS D AIRSPACE. WE IMMEDIATELY MADE A 180 DEG TURN BUT STILL PENETRATED THE VGT CLASS D AIRSPACE. I BELIEVE THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE CAPT WAS PREOCCUPIED WITH KEEPING A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE ACFT WE WERE FILMING, AS WELL AS COMMUNICATING WITH ITS CREW. I WAS DISTR WITH ATC COMS AND WATCHING FOR OTHER TFC, INCLUDING TFC ALERTS FROM OUR TCASII. ALSO, THE CAPT AND I DID NOT DESIGNATE WHICH ONE OF US WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR NAV, AND KEEPING US OUT OF AIRSPACE WHICH WE WERE NOT CLRED INTO. I BELIEVE IF WE HAD DISCUSSED THIS ON THE PREFLT BRIEFING, THE OCCURRENCE WOULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED.

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.