1993-03 · NASA ASRS report 235528
SMA ENTERS ARSA WITHOUT CLRNC.
I WAS TRANSITIONING BTWN SPRUCE CREEK; FL; TO DELAND ARPT AT 1200 FT; BOTH UNICOM ARPTS AND REMAINING OUTSIDE THE DAYTONA BEACH ARSA. THE SUN WAS IN A POS TO CAUSE A BLINDNESS WITH THE HVY HAZE. I ACCIDENTLY; KNOCKED OFF MY SUNGLASSES AND WAS BLINDED BY THE SUN. WHEN I REACHED FOR MY 'CHEAP' PRESCRIPTION SUNGLASSES THE LENSES FELL OUT. WHILE TRYING TO RETRIEVE MY BACKUP SUNGLASSES; I INADVERTENTLY ASCENDED TO 1500 FT AND POSSIBLY CAME WITHIN THE 5 MI CIRCLE AROUND DAYTONA. AFTER I GOT THE SUNGLASSES ON; IT TOOK ABOUT 30 SECONDS TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE INSTS AT WHICH TIME I DSNDED AND PROCEEDED OUT OF THE AIRSPACE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS INCLUDE THE POS OF THE SUN; TRAVELING W; THE HVY HAZE; DROPPING SUNGLASSES; CHEAP SUNGLASSES. CORRECTIVE ACTION INCLUDED DSNDING IMMEDIATELY AND EXITING AIRSPACE WITH MUCH HASTE. TO HAVE SAVED THIS OR PREVENTED THIS OCCURRENCE; I SHOULD HAVE CALLED DAYTONA AND TRANSITIONED THEIR AIRSPACE UNDER THEIR CTL BUT THEY WERE QUITE BUSY. THE SUN DEFINITELY AFFECTED MY ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO CLRLY SEE AND; THEREFORE; EXPERIENCED A FORM OF SNOW BLINDNESS. ONCE I RECOVERED I WAS ABLE TO CORRECT MY ACTIONS. THE BLINDNESS EXPERIENCED GREATLY AFFECTED MY ABILITY TO PERFORM TO MY BEST AT THAT TIME.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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