GA PLT; IN UNFAMILIAR ACFT AND AREA; PENETRATES BWI CLASS B AIRSPACE.
Synopsis
GA PLT; IN UNFAMILIAR ACFT AND AREA; PENETRATES BWI CLASS B AIRSPACE.
Narrative
I TOOK ANOTHER PLT FROM MY HOME FIELD SW OF IAD TO MTN TO FERRY AN ACFT TO MY HOME FIELD. DUE TO WINDS; I ELECTED NOT TO FLY MY TAILDRAGGER AND BORROWED ANOTHER TRI-GEAR ACFT. THE VFR FLT TO MTN WAS UNEVENTFUL WITH MY FELLOW PLT NAVING. I HAD NEVER BEEN TO MTN BEFORE; WHICH IS IN A VERY BUSY CLASS B AREA. UPON DEP IN HIGH WINDS AND TURB THROWING ME AROUND IN THE COCKPIT; I QUICKLY BECAME DISORIENTED. HAVING LOST MY NAVIGATOR DID NOT HELP. I COULD NOT RECOGNIZE LANDMARKS ON THE GND TO FIND ON MY TAC CHART. I ESTIMATED MY POS; STAYING LOW TO CLR THE BALTIMORE CLASS B AIRSPACE. ONCE I CONFIRMED MY POS; I REALIZED I WAS PROBABLY IN THE 1500 FT RING AND MY ALT WAS 1900 FT MSL. I QUICKLY DOVE TO 1400 FT. I CONTINUED AT 1400 FT UNTIL WELL CLR OF THAT PORTION OF THE CLASS B AIRSPACE. I FAILED TO HAVE A CLR PLAN IN MIND WHEN DEPARTING MTN FOR HDG AND ALT. BECAUSE I WAS IN UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY; IN A BORROWED ACFT AND TURB WAS THROWING ME ALL OVER THE SKY; I WAS A BIT OVERWHELMED. I AM AN EXPERIENCED PLT AND LEARNED A GREAT REMINDER FROM THIS EXPERIENCE. THAT IS; WORK UP A PLAN WITH AN ALTERNATE AND STICK TO THE PLAN. DON'T JUST 'KICK THE TIRES AND LIGHT THE FIRES!'
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.