A C182 pilot violated the restr airspace around a nuclear power plant.

Attributes
ACN	528904
Time
Date	200110
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 5500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 565 flight time type : 475
ASRS Report	528904
Person 2
Function	other personnel
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Airspace Structure FAA
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

I flew from ZZZ to YYY on the evening of 10/wed/01. I flew over the C class airspace above XXX (up to 5000 ft MSL) at 5500 ft, and after crossing airspace from west to east, I started my descent into the YYY airport. I called the YYY unicom and gave my intentions. Someone came back on and asked for my tail # again and after giving it, I was informed by approach (I believe it was approach, or it could have bee center) that I had flown through restr airspace, which was around nuclear power plant. I did not know about the restrs around the nuclear power plants in the us, and had not heard anyone discussing this restr. It was a clear night, so I flew from ZZZ over to YYY VFR. After requested, I gave my name and pilot certificate #, and was given a telephone # to call when on the ground. I call and spoke to a gentleman at power plant and was informed of what I did and how important it is, especially now, to talk to ATC and check NOTAMS while on the ground. I've learned a valuable lesson, and will now always check NOTAMS, and also either file an IFR flight plan, or ask for flight following.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C182 PLT VIOLATED THE RESTR AIRSPACE AROUND A NUCLEAR PWR PLANT.

Narrative: I FLEW FROM ZZZ TO YYY ON THE EVENING OF 10/WED/01. I FLEW OVER THE C CLASS AIRSPACE ABOVE XXX (UP TO 5000 FT MSL) AT 5500 FT, AND AFTER CROSSING AIRSPACE FROM W TO E, I STARTED MY DESCENT INTO THE YYY ARPT. I CALLED THE YYY UNICOM AND GAVE MY INTENTIONS. SOMEONE CAME BACK ON AND ASKED FOR MY TAIL # AGAIN AND AFTER GIVING IT, I WAS INFORMED BY APCH (I BELIEVE IT WAS APCH, OR IT COULD HAVE BEE CENTER) THAT I HAD FLOWN THROUGH RESTR AIRSPACE, WHICH WAS AROUND NUCLEAR PWR PLANT. I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE RESTRS AROUND THE NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS IN THE US, AND HAD NOT HEARD ANYONE DISCUSSING THIS RESTR. IT WAS A CLEAR NIGHT, SO I FLEW FROM ZZZ OVER TO YYY VFR. AFTER REQUESTED, I GAVE MY NAME AND PLT CERTIFICATE #, AND WAS GIVEN A TELEPHONE # TO CALL WHEN ON THE GND. I CALL AND SPOKE TO A GENTLEMAN AT PWR PLANT AND WAS INFORMED OF WHAT I DID AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS, ESPECIALLY NOW, TO TALK TO ATC AND CHECK NOTAMS WHILE ON THE GND. I'VE LEARNED A VALUABLE LESSON, AND WILL NOW ALWAYS CHECK NOTAMS, AND ALSO EITHER FILE AN IFR FLT PLAN, OR ASK FOR FLT FOLLOWING.

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.