GA small aircraft unauthorized penetration of airspace R2503.

Attributes
ACN	90905
Time
Date	198807
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ocn
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4500 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sna
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 6 flight time total : 152 flight time type : 14
ASRS Report	90905
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited penetrated airspace other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

While changing from sna departure control to coast approach, I entered restr area 2503. After passing ocn VOR, I tuned in to the el toro NDB, but did not get an accurate indication in order to fly direct to el toro west/O entering R2503 or the el toro special rules area. I could not follow the coastline on a visual route because the ground was obscured by low stratus. When I contacted coast approach I was told to remain clear of the special rules area and contact approach on a frequency different from the frequency on the sectional chart. I made a right turn which put me into restr airspace. When I contacted coast on the requested frequency, the controller informed me of my position when he made radar contact. It took about 2 mins to establish my position, which put me further into restr airspace. The controller vectored me out of the area and then to el toro. El toro VOR was OTS at the time. The cause of my mistake was not using available navaids for navigation and turning right west/O making sure I was clear of R2503. I also mistook a road leading inland through camp pendleton for the ortega highway, which is a landmark used to avoid the special rules area. To prevent recurrence, I will use navaids more completely and ask ATC for flight following for the entire flight. Flight following would keep me from going off course when changing ATC facs.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA UNAUTH PENETRATION OF AIRSPACE R2503.

Narrative: WHILE CHANGING FROM SNA DEP CTL TO COAST APCH, I ENTERED RESTR AREA 2503. AFTER PASSING OCN VOR, I TUNED IN TO THE EL TORO NDB, BUT DID NOT GET AN ACCURATE INDICATION IN ORDER TO FLY DIRECT TO EL TORO W/O ENTERING R2503 OR THE EL TORO SPECIAL RULES AREA. I COULD NOT FOLLOW THE COASTLINE ON A VISUAL ROUTE BECAUSE THE GND WAS OBSCURED BY LOW STRATUS. WHEN I CONTACTED COAST APCH I WAS TOLD TO REMAIN CLEAR OF THE SPECIAL RULES AREA AND CONTACT APCH ON A FREQ DIFFERENT FROM THE FREQ ON THE SECTIONAL CHART. I MADE A RIGHT TURN WHICH PUT ME INTO RESTR AIRSPACE. WHEN I CONTACTED COAST ON THE REQUESTED FREQ, THE CTLR INFORMED ME OF MY POS WHEN HE MADE RADAR CONTACT. IT TOOK ABOUT 2 MINS TO ESTABLISH MY POS, WHICH PUT ME FURTHER INTO RESTR AIRSPACE. THE CTLR VECTORED ME OUT OF THE AREA AND THEN TO EL TORO. EL TORO VOR WAS OTS AT THE TIME. THE CAUSE OF MY MISTAKE WAS NOT USING AVAILABLE NAVAIDS FOR NAV AND TURNING RIGHT W/O MAKING SURE I WAS CLR OF R2503. I ALSO MISTOOK A ROAD LEADING INLAND THROUGH CAMP PENDLETON FOR THE ORTEGA HWY, WHICH IS A LANDMARK USED TO AVOID THE SPECIAL RULES AREA. TO PREVENT RECURRENCE, I WILL USE NAVAIDS MORE COMPLETELY AND ASK ATC FOR FLT FOLLOWING FOR THE ENTIRE FLT. FLT FOLLOWING WOULD KEEP ME FROM GOING OFF COURSE WHEN CHANGING ATC FACS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.