SMA HAS POSSIBLE ENTRY INTO CLASS B AIRSPACE WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative

THIS FLT ORIGINATED AT KISSIMEE ARPT; FL; WITH FUEL STOPS AT GRAND STRAND AND SALISBURY ENRTE TO NORWOOD; MA. ENRTE WX WAS VFR UP TO NORFOLK; VA; WHERE THE CEILING REDUCED TO 1700 FT AND VISIBILITY TO 6 MI. WX IMPROVED AFTER DEPARTING SALISBURY WITH INCREASING CEILING (APPROX 7000 FT) AND 25 MI IN FLT VISIBILITY. DURING THE FLT ATC WAS PROVIDING FLT FOLLOWING AND AN EXPECTED HDOF FROM ATLANTIC CITY DEP TO NY APCH DID NOT OCCUR. THIS WAS NOT RECOGNIZED BY THE PLTS UNTIL WELL PAST ATLANTIC CITY ALONG THE NJ COAST. THE INTENT AT THAT TIME WAS TO CLB TO 7500 FT TO OVERFLY THE CLASS B AIRSPACE. AT 6000 FT FREEZING RAIN WAS ENCOUNTERED WHICH PERSISTED DOWN TO 4500 FT. THE DECISION TO FLY BEYOND THE 20 NM CLASS B OUTER RING WAS MADE. THUS AN OVERWATER FLT AT DUSK WAS UNDERTAKEN. THE GPS EQUIP WAS INTERMITTENT SO A POINT ON THE COAST OF LONG ISLAND WAS SELECTED (VOR RANGE TO CALVERTON WAS TOO GREAT). THE FLT PROCEEDED FROM THE NJ COAST ABEAM FARMINGDALE ARPT TOWARD BROOKHAVEN ARPT ON LONG ISLAND AT 3500 FT (NO ONE WANTED TO UNDERFLY THE CLASS B AIRSPACE AT 1500 FT; AT DUSK). THE VISIBILITY WAS SUCH THAT BROOKHAVEN WAS OCCASIONALLY OBSCURED. HENCE IT IS POSSIBLE THE FLT PATH PASSED INTO JFK CLASS B AIRSPACE. LOSS OF ATC FLT FOLLOWING OCCURRED WHICH MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO A POOR DECISION TO USE PILOTAGE TO AVOID THE CLASS B AIRSPACE. THE FLT CONTINUED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENTS.