Narrative:

I obtained a preflight WX briefing for flight from plb to 4n1 (2.8 hour flight). Parachute NOTAMS were issued for several locations along route of flight including gardner (private airfield) near newburgh, ny. Newburgh, ny had previously reported 2800 ft broken. At time of airspace conflict, I had just flown out from under a broken layer at 2900 ft. Clouds were lightly scattered at same altitude. I noticed a parachutist (closest) low at 1000 ft gliding south to north not in the immediate vicinity of airport (I believe south 2-3 mi due to wind). Then scanning area I saw 6-8 parachutes at approximately 3500 ft descending further south from location. I immediately altered course to the west to provide increased separation. At the time I was monitoring 122.8 for other local airports. I had not heard any jump advisories but they may have occurred earlier or on gardner unicom 122.975, or perhaps stewart (swf) ATIS. I was using GPS for navigation equipped with moving topographic map, but did not show jump area and was not paying attention to its vicinity with sectional. I was surprised that anyone was jumping in current conditions with relatively low visibility in haze, broken and scattered clouds and winds that indicated to be 25-35 KTS at 2000 ft out of the south. I was caught off guard by own lack of vigilance concerning these areas location and activity. Lesson learned: expect parachute jumping in even marginal visibility with scattered to broken clouds. Xchk GPS moving map position with sectional more often for hazards. Check with center/approach to verify any jump activities. Recommendations: parachute 'zones' versus symbol might more clearly indicate permitted jump areas. With increase of parachute activities designated airspace could reduce conflicts. Issuing a tfr during these type of activities might be a consideration. I do note many supporting products (GPS moving maps, flight planning software) visually depict tfr's which is a great pilot aid.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LA4-200 PLT EXPERIENCED CONFLICT WITH PARACHUTE ACTIVITY AIRSPACE DURING VFR FLT AND LOWERING VISIBILITY CONDITIONS.

Narrative: I OBTAINED A PREFLT WX BRIEFING FOR FLT FROM PLB TO 4N1 (2.8 HR FLT). PARACHUTE NOTAMS WERE ISSUED FOR SEVERAL LOCATIONS ALONG RTE OF FLT INCLUDING GARDNER (PVT AIRFIELD) NEAR NEWBURGH, NY. NEWBURGH, NY HAD PREVIOUSLY RPTED 2800 FT BROKEN. AT TIME OF AIRSPACE CONFLICT, I HAD JUST FLOWN OUT FROM UNDER A BROKEN LAYER AT 2900 FT. CLOUDS WERE LIGHTLY SCATTERED AT SAME ALT. I NOTICED A PARACHUTIST (CLOSEST) LOW AT 1000 FT GLIDING S TO N NOT IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF ARPT (I BELIEVE S 2-3 MI DUE TO WIND). THEN SCANNING AREA I SAW 6-8 PARACHUTES AT APPROX 3500 FT DSNDING FURTHER S FROM LOCATION. I IMMEDIATELY ALTERED COURSE TO THE W TO PROVIDE INCREASED SEPARATION. AT THE TIME I WAS MONITORING 122.8 FOR OTHER LCL ARPTS. I HAD NOT HEARD ANY JUMP ADVISORIES BUT THEY MAY HAVE OCCURRED EARLIER OR ON GARDNER UNICOM 122.975, OR PERHAPS STEWART (SWF) ATIS. I WAS USING GPS FOR NAV EQUIPPED WITH MOVING TOPOGRAPHIC MAP, BUT DID NOT SHOW JUMP AREA AND WAS NOT PAYING ATTN TO ITS VICINITY WITH SECTIONAL. I WAS SURPRISED THAT ANYONE WAS JUMPING IN CURRENT CONDITIONS WITH RELATIVELY LOW VISIBILITY IN HAZE, BROKEN AND SCATTERED CLOUDS AND WINDS THAT INDICATED TO BE 25-35 KTS AT 2000 FT OUT OF THE S. I WAS CAUGHT OFF GUARD BY OWN LACK OF VIGILANCE CONCERNING THESE AREAS LOCATION AND ACTIVITY. LESSON LEARNED: EXPECT PARACHUTE JUMPING IN EVEN MARGINAL VISIBILITY WITH SCATTERED TO BROKEN CLOUDS. XCHK GPS MOVING MAP POS WITH SECTIONAL MORE OFTEN FOR HAZARDS. CHK WITH CTR/APCH TO VERIFY ANY JUMP ACTIVITIES. RECOMMENDATIONS: PARACHUTE 'ZONES' VERSUS SYMBOL MIGHT MORE CLRLY INDICATE PERMITTED JUMP AREAS. WITH INCREASE OF PARACHUTE ACTIVITIES DESIGNATED AIRSPACE COULD REDUCE CONFLICTS. ISSUING A TFR DURING THESE TYPE OF ACTIVITIES MIGHT BE A CONSIDERATION. I DO NOTE MANY SUPPORTING PRODUCTS (GPS MOVING MAPS, FLT PLANNING SOFTWARE) VISUALLY DEPICT TFR'S WHICH IS A GREAT PLT AID.

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.