Pilot of PA28 penetrated dc ADIZ due to reliance on a unreliable or malfunctioning navigation device...

Attributes
ACN	577115
Time
Date	200303
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pct.tracon
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl single value : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pct.tracon tracon : nhk.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 12 flight time type : 90
ASRS Report	577115
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical airspace violation : entry non adherence : far non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : pct radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft Airspace Structure Chart Or Publication Environmental Factor FAA
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation
Situations
Airspace Structure	special use : dcadiz.othersua

Narrative:

I was on a flight from hef to oxb in a piper warrior. I filed an ADIZ and VFR flight plan. To avoid the dc airspace I traveled south from the csn VOR then intercepted the 230 degree radial from the brv VOR. This also insured avoiding the ap hill restr area. I then set the aircraft LORAN system to locate W79. I turned left and followed the bearing on the LORAN. Once I reached W79, I called patuxent approach to get cleared through their airspace to fly direct to oxb. Once I received clearance from patuxent, I set the LORAN to oxb. The LORAN indicated a bearing of north and a distance of approximately 55 NM. The bearing and distance reported by the LORAN was wrong. In fact the LORAN in the aircraft shows oxb to be in the middle of the dc restr airspace. I should have realized I was west of my destination not south. However, I relied on the LORAN thinking I may have been further south than I realized. By the time I realized I wasn't where I was supposed to be, I was being escorted out of the area.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF PA28 PENETRATED DC ADIZ DUE TO RELIANCE ON A UNRELIABLE OR MALFUNCTIONING NAVIGATION DEVICE.

Narrative: I WAS ON A FLT FROM HEF TO OXB IN A PIPER WARRIOR. I FILED AN ADIZ AND VFR FLT PLAN. TO AVOID THE DC AIRSPACE I TRAVELED S FROM THE CSN VOR THEN INTERCEPTED THE 230 DEG RADIAL FROM THE BRV VOR. THIS ALSO INSURED AVOIDING THE AP HILL RESTR AREA. I THEN SET THE ACFT LORAN SYSTEM TO LOCATE W79. I TURNED L AND FOLLOWED THE BEARING ON THE LORAN. ONCE I REACHED W79, I CALLED PATUXENT APCH TO GET CLRED THROUGH THEIR AIRSPACE TO FLY DIRECT TO OXB. ONCE I RECEIVED CLRNC FROM PATUXENT, I SET THE LORAN TO OXB. THE LORAN INDICATED A BEARING OF N AND A DISTANCE OF APPROX 55 NM. THE BEARING AND DISTANCE RPTED BY THE LORAN WAS WRONG. IN FACT THE LORAN IN THE ACFT SHOWS OXB TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DC RESTR AIRSPACE. I SHOULD HAVE REALIZED I WAS W OF MY DEST NOT S. HOWEVER, I RELIED ON THE LORAN THINKING I MAY HAVE BEEN FURTHER S THAN I REALIZED. BY THE TIME I REALIZED I WASN'T WHERE I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE, I WAS BEING ESCORTED OUT OF THE AREA.

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.