C172 PENETRATES IAD DCA CLASS B AIRSPACE. CTLR OBSERVES CONFLICT WITH A LEAR JET; RESOLVES SIT; AND IS ABLE TO CONTACT C172 TO INSTRUCT HIM TO CALL TRACON.
Synopsis
C172 PENETRATES IAD DCA CLASS B AIRSPACE. CTLR OBSERVES CONFLICT WITH A LEAR JET; RESOLVES SIT; AND IS ABLE TO CONTACT C172 TO INSTRUCT HIM TO CALL TRACON.
Narrative
WHILE TRACKING S THROUGH THE FLYWAY BTWN REAGAN NATIONAL AND DULLES; I (ACFT X) USED THE LORAN IN CONJUNCTION WITH PILOTAGE TO MAINTAIN PROPER GND TRACK THROUGH THE FLYWAY. UPON SPOTTING A LAKE; I BEGAN A TURN OUT OF THE FLYWAY TOWARD THE W AND MY DEST OF MANASSAS. WITHOUT XCHKING THE LANDMARK AND MY LORAN FOR DISTANCE FROM ARMEL VOR; I APPARENTLY ENTERED A SECTION OF CLASS B AIRSPACE (WITHOUT A CLRNC) AND IMMEDIATELY CAUSED A SEPARATION CONFLICT WITH A LEAR JET (ACFT Y) (WHICH I DID NOT OBSERVE). MY ERROR LIKELY OCCURRED DUE TO MY FAILURE TO VERIFY MY LANDMARK AGAINST ANOTHER REF. ACCORDING TO THE RADAR SURVEILLANCE EQUIP; I BRIEFLY ENTERED CLASS B AIRSPACE BTWN 11-12 MI FROM AML ON THE 150 DEG RADIAL AT 2400 FT MSL. THE FLOOR OF THE ASSOCIATED CLASS B AIRSPACE IS 1500 FT MSL. MY ORIGINAL PLAN OF REMAINING IN THE FLYWAY UNTIL ON THE 090 DEG RADIAL FROM MANASSAS ARPT WAS EVIDENTLY CIRCUMVENTED BY STARTING SAID TURN AT THE WRONG LANDMARK. WHILE I ENJOY THE LORAN AS A SUPPLEMENTARY INST IN BOTH VFR AND IFR FLT; I TEND TO RELY MOSTLY ON PILOTAGE DUE TO MY INTEREST AND SKILLS WITH MAPS. THE TWR OPERATOR ADVISED THAT THE DULLES APCH CTLR REQUESTED A BEACON 'IDENT;' WITH WHICH I COMPLIED. AS I HAD ASSUMED; THE GND CTLR INFORMED ME TO CALL THE SUPVR AT DULLES. THE SUPVR ADVISED ME OF THE CONFLICT; WHICH THE SPECIALIST RESOLVED WITH IMMEDIATE VECTORS. HE THANKED ME FOR USING THE FLYWAY; AND ENDED THE CONVERSATION WITH PROFESSIONAL ADVICE TO BE MORE CAREFUL AND NO FURTHER SANCTION.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.