SMT HAS PROBLEM WITH CUSTOMS ON RETURN TO UNITED STATES.
Synopsis
SMT HAS PROBLEM WITH CUSTOMS ON RETURN TO UNITED STATES.
Narrative
WHILE ENTERING THE UNITED STATES; I DID NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND THE PROCS CORRECTLY. THE FLT FROM HMO; MEXICO TO SAN LUIS; MEXICO TO YUMA; AZ IN AN SMT HIGH PERFORMANCE MULTI-ENG WITH ORIGINAL RADIOS FROM XY. 1 HR BEFORE ENTERING THE UNITED STATES I CONTACTED TUCSON RADIO ON 122.4 (RADIOS ARE WEAK) AND REQUESTED TO HAVE THE UNITED STATES CUSTOMS NOTIFIED AND TO RECONFIRM MY FLT PLAN TO YUMA. I DROPPED OF MY PAX IN SAN LUIS THEN DEPARTED AND CONTACTED YUMA TWR (STILL IN MEXICAN AIRSPACE!). TWR CLRED ME TO LAND ON 17 AS I DID CORRECTLY. I WAITED IN THE PLANE TILL CUSTOMS ARRIVED AND THEY HARASSED ME TELLING ME THEY DIDN'T KNOW I WAS COMING. THEY THEN CALLED TUCSON RADIO AND SPOKE WITH THE PERSON I CONTACTED 1 HR S OF THE BORDER. TOLD CUSTOMS THAT I REQUESTED WX (UNTRUE!). I WAS SQUAWKING 1200 AT VFR ALT. I FILED A FLT PLAN IN MEXICO. I THINK YUMA TWR SHOULD HAVE HELPED ME WHEN I CONTACTED THEM. THEY SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME TO CONTINUE CIRCLING UNTIL THEY STRAIGHTEN THINGS OUT WITH TUCSON RADIO AND CUSTOMS (S OF THE BORDER!). I DIDN'T CALL APCH; I FORGOT. ALSO MISCOMS BTWN TUCSON RADIO AND MYSELF. I HAVE NEVER LEFT THE UNITED STATES - FIRST TIME! I ASKED 5 CFI'S HOW TO DO THIS CORRECTLY AND STILL SCREWED UP!
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.