AN SMA INSTRUCTOR PLT HAD AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE IN VMC. THE RESULT WAS A PENETRATION OF THE IAH TCA.

Narrative

SMA VFR IN VMC. COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE (NO TRANSPONDER; COM; NAV) APCHING HOUSTON AT 8500 FT TO LAND AT ANDRAU ARPT (AAP). INITIAL POS W END BRIDGE; HWY 190 ACROSS LAKE LIVINGSTON; 52 NM FROM IAH ON 005 RADIAL. IT WAS MY INTENTION TO CIRCLE AROUND IAH ON APPROX 35 NM ARC DSNDING TO 1000 FT BEFORE PENETRATING THE 30 NM ARC NEAR AAP. I SWITCHED FROM SECTIONAL CHART TO VFR TERMINAL AREA CHART AND LOCATED MY POS AT W END OF BRIDGE DEPICTED ON LAKE SHOWN NW OF IAH. UNKNOWINGLY; THE BRIDGE FROM WHICH I TOOK MY POS IS ON THE LAKE CONROE; NOT LAKE LIVINGSTON. WHEN I PASSED ABOUT 3 NM E OF MONTGOMERY CITY ARPT (CXO) (WITHIN 30 NM ARC FOR IAH); I REALIZED MY MISTAKE; IMMEDIATELY TURNED AND DSNDED PASSING 5 MI TO THE W OF DWH AND CONTINUING S PASSING W OF EYQ AND LYD AND LNDG AT AAP. MINIMAL RECENT EXPERIENCE IN PILOTAGE IS CERTAINLY THE CAUSE OF THIS MISTAKE OF LANDMARK IDENT ON THE CHARTS. RELYING ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ON RADIO NAVAIDS HAS LEFT ME UNPREPARED TO COPE WITH THIS REQUIREMENT TO NAV BY PILOTAGE. TURNING OFF THE NAV RADIOS AND BRUSHING UP ON DEAD-RECKONING AND PILOTAGE WITH VISUAL LANDMARKS IS ON THE IMMEDIATE AGENDA.