UNAUTH PENETRATION OF AIRSPACE -- DISPUTED.

Narrative

DEPARTED ELP XA25 LCL. HANDED OFF TO ZAB APPROX XA40 LCL. APPROX XA55 REQUESTED FREQ CHANGE TO FLT WATCH TO UPDATE WX INFO ON OBSERVED AREA OF CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY. WHEN RETURNED TO ZAB FREQ (XB00 LCL); WAS ADVISED 'NOT IN RADAR CONTACT; BUT IN R-5115.' REQUESTED VECTOR FROM R- 5115; ZAB UNABLE DUE TO LACK OF RADAR CONTACT. OBSERVATION BALLOON; CABLE; AND ASSOCIATED ARPT WERE IN VIEW FOR AT LEAST 20 NM. SENECA PASSED AT LEAST 5 NM NE (WELL CLR OF R-5115). ADVISED BY ZAB OF POSSIBLE PLTDEV. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR WAS FLYING A PIPER SENECA I PA34-200 AND WAS IN CTR RADAR CONTACT WHEN HE WENT OFF FREQ TO TALK TO FLT WATCH. DURING THIS TIME OFF FREQ; HE REMAINED CLEAR OF THE RESTR AREA WHICH WAS CLRLY VISIBLE TO HIM. THE CTR TOLD HIM THAT HE WAS NOT IN RADAR CONTACT WHEN HE RETURNED TO THE CTR FREQ. ADDITIONALLY THE CTLR TOLD HIM THAT HE WAS IN THE RESTR AREA. WHEN FURTHER QUERIED; THE CTLR TOLD HIM THAT HE WAS NOW IN RADAR CONTACT AND THAT HE WAS NOT IN THE RESTR AREA. THE RPTR SAID THAT HE WAS CONFUSED BY THE CTLR'S STATEMENTS AND THAT HE WAS NOT SURE IF THE CTLR WAS FILING A VIOLATION OR ERROR AGAINST HIM. THE RPTR SAYS THAT HE WAS SURE OF HIS POS; BOTH BY VISUAL AND VORTAC MEANS AND HE DID NOT ENTER THE RESTR AREA.