PVT PLT IN A C172 PENETRATES R2504 WHILE DIVERTING TO PRB; CA.

Narrative

WHILE FLYING UP THE CALIFORNIA COASTLINE; I DIVERTED EASTWARD UPON REACHING LAKE NACIAMENTO DUE TO CLOUD COVER; WITH THE INTENTION OF LNDG AT PASO ROBLES ARPT. UPON DIVERTING; I NOTICED MIL EQUIP BELOW; AND DOUBLECHKED MY MAP. SURE ENOUGH; I HAD PENETRATED A RESTR AREA OVER CAMP ROBERTS. MY PREFLT PLANNING HAD INCLUDED REVIEW OF RESTR AREAS ALONG OUR FLT PATH; BUT I DID NOT NOTE THAT THERE WAS A SMALL RESTR AREA TO THE E. UPON DIVERTING; I LOOKED AT THE MAP; BUT DID NOT SEE THE RESTR AREA. AFTER SEEING THE MIL EQUIP; I LOOKED AGAIN AND SAW IT. AFTER PENETRATING; I CONTINUED ALONG MY CURRENT HDG; AS THE RESTR AREA WAS ONLY 2 MI WIDE AT THAT POINT AND I WAS ALREADY 1/2 WAY THROUGH. THERE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY ACTIVITY ON THE GND; OR IN THE AIR. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IS THAT I ALLOWED MY PAX TO HOLD THE MAPS AND SUGGEST POSSIBLE RTES. I DID POINT OUT AREAS TO AVOID; BUT NEITHER OF US PICKED UP ON CAMP ROBERTS. MY REVIEW ONCE AIRBORNE WAS CURSORY AND FOCUSED ON DETERMINING THE PROPER HDG TO PRB ARPT ONCE THE DECISION TO DIVERT WAS MADE.