PLT OF A CAP PIPER PA34-200T PENETRATED THE CONTINENTAL ADIZ ACCIDENTALLY WHILE ON A CAP MISSION RESULTING IN A MIL F15 INTERCEPT. HE RELAYED HIS IDENT THROUGH ATC CTR AND IMMEDIATELY RE-ENTERED BACK ACROSS THE ADIZ.
Synopsis
PLT OF A CAP PIPER PA34-200T PENETRATED THE CONTINENTAL ADIZ ACCIDENTALLY WHILE ON A CAP MISSION RESULTING IN A MIL F15 INTERCEPT. HE RELAYED HIS IDENT THROUGH ATC CTR AND IMMEDIATELY RE-ENTERED BACK ACROSS THE ADIZ.
Narrative
WHILE ON A CAP COUNTERDRUG MARINE PATROL MISSION; I INADVERTENTLY ENTERED THE NW ADIZ; APPROX 5 MI W OF TATOOSH ISLAND. I WAS INTERCEPTED BY AN F15 (UNARMED). I IMMEDIATELY ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE FIGHTER ON VHF GUARD (121.5). FAILING TO ESTABLISH COMS WITH THE FIGHTER; I CONTACTED ZSE WHICH WAS ABLE TO RELAY TO THE FIGHTER MY IDENT AND MISSION. I CONTINUED THE MARINE PATROL TO THE COLUMBIA RIVER AND RETURNED TO PORT ANGELES. ALTHOUGH I DID NOT INTENTIONALLY PENETRATE THE ADIZ; I FELT THAT SINCE I WAS SQUAWKING 1200 AND HAD BEEN TRACKED BY FAA AND DOD RADARS WHILE TRANSITING PUGET SOUND AND TURNING S AT TATOOSH; I WOULD BE SAFE OPERATING NEAR THE ADIZ. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN OBVIOUS TO WESTERN AIR DEFENSE CTLRS THAT MY ACFT CAME FROM UNITED STATES AIRSPACE AND IMMEDIATELY RE-ENTERED UNITED STATES AIRSPACE. WHEN I RETURNED TO PORT ANGELES I CALLED THE DUTY OFFICER. I EXPLAINED MY IDENT AND MISSION AS WELL AS APOLOGIZING FOR BRUSHING THE ADIZ. HE WAS UPSET AT ME FOR NOT MONITORING UHF GUARD AND RESPONDING TO THEIR CALLS. WHEN I TOLD HIM THAT CIVILIAN AIRPLANES AS A RULE DO NOT HAVE UHF CAPABILITY; HE INFORMED ME I WAS INCORRECT. (THIS MIGHT BE AN ISSUE TO BRING UP WITH WADS -- THEY MAY BE UNAWARE OF CIVILIAN RADIO CAPABILITIES.) I HAD BEEN MONITORING VHF GUARD (121.5) BUT DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING. THE DUTY OFFICER ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE ADIZ AROUND TATOOSH ISLAND WAS 12 NM -- IT IS ACTUALLY 5 NM; DIRECTLY W. PERHAPS IT IS TIME TO REVIEW THE PURPOSE OF THE NW ADIZ. IS IT TO PREVENT THE PENETRATION OF ENEMY BOMBERS? IF SO; INTERCEPTING A SLOW MOVING; TWIN ENG CIVIL AIRPLANE SQUAWKING VFR ORIGINATING IN THE UNITED STATES WITH AN UNARMED F15 HARDLY MAKES SENSE. IF IT IS TO PREVENT SMUGGLING; THEN THE ADIZ SHOULD EXTEND ACROSS OUR 2000 MI BORDER WITH CANADA. SELECTIVELY INTERCEPTING ONLY AIRPLANES WHICH FLY THROUGH THAT AREA (IGNORING HUNDREDS OF BOATS WHICH TRANSIT THE AREA DAILY) DOESN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE EITHER.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.