Unauthorized class D airspace penetration and traffic pattern conflict by a C172 pilot 5 mi east of ...

Attributes
ACN	597441
Time
Date	200310
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fok.airport
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl single value : 1200
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Weather Elements	Rain
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon tower : fok.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude ground : parked
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : fok.tower
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 1800 flight time type : 350
ASRS Report	597441
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry incursion : landing without clearance inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	vertical : 100
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

VFR day trip from mtp to 47N. WX forecast to be 2000 ft or better. Approaching about 10 mi east of fok, ceiling began dropping and visibility dropped in rain. Decided to land at fok. Called several frequencys -- no response. Tried #2 radio -- no response. Contacted new york approach on 118.0 and made contact. By this time, WX was even worse and I continued in toward fdk without having made radio contact. New york approach confirmed tower at fok was in operation. Called tower again and planned radio out approach -- blink landing light, etc. Tower responded and by then, I was almost on top of the airport. Tower had traffic on left downwind for runway 19 and even though pilot of that aircraft was not asked, he descended from 1100 ft to 800 ft and finished approach. I did not see landing aircraft, so it is unknown if there was a real conflict. Tower controller was understandably upset with my showing up with traffic in the pattern. I landed uneventfully and at request of the controller, called him and explained what happened and apologized.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNAUTH CLASS D AIRSPACE PENETRATION AND TFC PATTERN CONFLICT BY A C172 PLT 5 MI E OF FOK, NY.

Narrative: VFR DAY TRIP FROM MTP TO 47N. WX FORECAST TO BE 2000 FT OR BETTER. APCHING ABOUT 10 MI E OF FOK, CEILING BEGAN DROPPING AND VISIBILITY DROPPED IN RAIN. DECIDED TO LAND AT FOK. CALLED SEVERAL FREQS -- NO RESPONSE. TRIED #2 RADIO -- NO RESPONSE. CONTACTED NEW YORK APCH ON 118.0 AND MADE CONTACT. BY THIS TIME, WX WAS EVEN WORSE AND I CONTINUED IN TOWARD FDK WITHOUT HAVING MADE RADIO CONTACT. NEW YORK APCH CONFIRMED TWR AT FOK WAS IN OP. CALLED TWR AGAIN AND PLANNED RADIO OUT APCH -- BLINK LNDG LIGHT, ETC. TWR RESPONDED AND BY THEN, I WAS ALMOST ON TOP OF THE ARPT. TWR HAD TFC ON L DOWNWIND FOR RWY 19 AND EVEN THOUGH PLT OF THAT ACFT WAS NOT ASKED, HE DSNDED FROM 1100 FT TO 800 FT AND FINISHED APCH. I DID NOT SEE LNDG ACFT, SO IT IS UNKNOWN IF THERE WAS A REAL CONFLICT. TWR CTLR WAS UNDERSTANDABLY UPSET WITH MY SHOWING UP WITH TFC IN THE PATTERN. I LANDED UNEVENTFULLY AND AT REQUEST OF THE CTLR, CALLED HIM AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED AND APOLOGIZED.

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.

Unauthorized class D airspace penetration and traffic pattern conflict by a C172 pilot 5 mi east of fok, ny.