The pilot of an experimental aircraft took a 30 min VFR flight.

Attributes
ACN	524878
Time
Date	200109
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mej.airport
State Reference	KS
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Experimental
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : parked
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 450 flight time type : 40
ASRS Report	524878
Person 2
Affiliation	government other
Function	other personnel other
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : #3 faa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance FAA Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I checked an aviation website thur and determined that the us airspace had been reopened to VFR traffic. Fri morning I flew 20 miles southeast of meade. When I returned, after a 30 min flight I was met by local law enforcement sent to the meade (mej) airport by the FAA. The officers informed me the FAA called and us airspace was still closed to VFR traffic. I called flight service and they confirmed the fact that airspace was closed and that misinformation had been given to the aviation org. To my knowledge, the problem was caused by the FAA's incorrect NOTAM that the airway was opened to VFR traffic. I should have contracted flight service prior to taking off. I don't usually do this for a 30 min local flight, but under the circumstances I should have rechecked the airspace status. I assure you that I did not willfully break any regulations and wasn't trying to 'sneak by.' on my way back to the airport, before landing, I climbed to 6500 ft and practiced slow flight and a couple stalls, well into radar coverage for our area. I shall in the future be very very diligent investigating airspace status.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: THE PLT OF AN EXPERIMENTAL ACFT TOOK A 30 MIN VFR FLT.

Narrative: I CHKED AN AVIATION WEBSITE THUR AND DETERMINED THAT THE US AIRSPACE HAD BEEN REOPENED TO VFR TFC. FRI MORNING I FLEW 20 MILES SE OF MEADE. WHEN I RETURNED, AFTER A 30 MIN FLT I WAS MET BY LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SENT TO THE MEADE (MEJ) ARPT BY THE FAA. THE OFFICERS INFORMED ME THE FAA CALLED AND US AIRSPACE WAS STILL CLOSED TO VFR TFC. I CALLED FLT SERVICE AND THEY CONFIRMED THE FACT THAT AIRSPACE WAS CLOSED AND THAT MISINFORMATION HAD BEEN GIVEN TO THE AVIATION ORG. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THE PROB WAS CAUSED BY THE FAA'S INCORRECT NOTAM THAT THE AIRWAY WAS OPENED TO VFR TFC. I SHOULD HAVE CONTRACTED FLT SERVICE PRIOR TO TAKING OFF. I DON'T USUALLY DO THIS FOR A 30 MIN LOCAL FLT, BUT UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES I SHOULD HAVE RECHECKED THE AIRSPACE STATUS. I ASSURE YOU THAT I DID NOT WILLFULLY BREAK ANY REGULATIONS AND WASN'T TRYING TO 'SNEAK BY.' ON MY WAY BACK TO THE ARPT, BEFORE LNDG, I CLIMBED TO 6500 FT AND PRACTICED SLOW FLT AND A COUPLE STALLS, WELL INTO RADAR COVERAGE FOR OUR AREA. I SHALL IN THE FUTURE BE VERY VERY DILIGENT INVESTIGATING AIRSPACE STATUS.

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.