Pilot of C206 entered R4001A when he attempted to navigation in MVFR conditions using new GPS system...

Attributes
ACN	591961
Time
Date	200308
Day	Tue
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	Marginal
Weather Elements	other
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pct.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna Stationair/Turbo Stationair 6
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 5 flight time total : 140 flight time type : 40
ASRS Report	591961
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I left mtn after filing ADIZ departure to golda-58M. I have recently had a GPS installed in my aircraft. I set up a flight plan in the GPS to golda then direct to cecil county airport. After contacting pct and being released to VFR 1200, I entered direct to K58M. I was following the heading on the GPS when I noticed that the course did not seem to be correct. The sky below was very hazy and it was difficult to make out any landmarks on the ground. I went to my chart (sectional) and verified that I was not on course to cecil county at which time I corrected my course and proceeded to 58M. What I did not know at the time was that you cannot put a 'K' in front of the identify in the GPS if it begins with a number (ie, 58M). The heading and DME information I was following put me in restr area R4001A airspace. I did not realize that until I had already impacted it and then corrected my course. I will always xref my sectionals with my electronic navigation system from now on! (My GPS is certified IFR.)

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF C206 ENTERED R4001A WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO NAV IN MVFR CONDITIONS USING NEW GPS SYS.

Narrative: I LEFT MTN AFTER FILING ADIZ DEP TO GOLDA-58M. I HAVE RECENTLY HAD A GPS INSTALLED IN MY ACFT. I SET UP A FLT PLAN IN THE GPS TO GOLDA THEN DIRECT TO CECIL COUNTY ARPT. AFTER CONTACTING PCT AND BEING RELEASED TO VFR 1200, I ENTERED DIRECT TO K58M. I WAS FOLLOWING THE HDG ON THE GPS WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE COURSE DID NOT SEEM TO BE CORRECT. THE SKY BELOW WAS VERY HAZY AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MAKE OUT ANY LANDMARKS ON THE GND. I WENT TO MY CHART (SECTIONAL) AND VERIFIED THAT I WAS NOT ON COURSE TO CECIL COUNTY AT WHICH TIME I CORRECTED MY COURSE AND PROCEEDED TO 58M. WHAT I DID NOT KNOW AT THE TIME WAS THAT YOU CANNOT PUT A 'K' IN FRONT OF THE IDENT IN THE GPS IF IT BEGINS WITH A NUMBER (IE, 58M). THE HDG AND DME INFO I WAS FOLLOWING PUT ME IN RESTR AREA R4001A AIRSPACE. I DID NOT REALIZE THAT UNTIL I HAD ALREADY IMPACTED IT AND THEN CORRECTED MY COURSE. I WILL ALWAYS XREF MY SECTIONALS WITH MY ELECTRONIC NAV SYS FROM NOW ON! (MY GPS IS CERTIFIED IFR.)

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.