A PA28 PLT TOOK A 35 NM SIGHTSEEING FLT; ALONG THE LAKE MICHIGAN SHORE LINE; PASSING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT.

Narrative

THIS MORNING I TOOK A FRIEND ON A SIGHTSEEING TOUR OF OUR AREA IN MY CLUB'S ARCHER. IT INCLUDED A FLT ALONG THE LAKE MICHIGAN SHORELINE FROM WARREN DUNES STATE PARK TO APPROX FIVE MILES S OF SOUTH HAVEN; MI; A TOTAL DISTANCE OF 35 NM. THIS IS A COMMON PRACTICE AND DONE BY HUNDREDS OF PLANES EVERY YEAR; I MYSELF HAVE DONE IT THIRTY TO FORTY TIMES IN THE TWENTY-TWO YRS I HAVE BEEN FLYING IN THIS AREA. UNFORTUNATELY; THE BRIDGMAN; MICHIGAN NUCLEAR PWR PLANT IS LOCATED ON THE SHORELINE. I UNKNOWINGLY AND UNWITTINGLY; WAS UNAWARE THERE WAS A THREE-MILE RESTR ZONE AROUND THE PLANT; AS A RESULT OF THE TERRORIST ATTACKS IN SEPT. WHEN I LANDED AT MY HOME BASE IN ELKHART; IN; I WAS ADVISED BY ONE OF THE CTLRS OF MY INFRACTION. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT TWO F16S WERE ASSIGNED TO FLY ABOVE ME UNTIL SATISFIED I WAS NOT A THREAT; I DID NOT SEE THEM. I WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT I SHOULD HAVE CONTACTED FSS FOR NOTAMS THAT WOULD HAVE TOLD ME THIS AREA IS OFF LIMITS. I AM COMPLETELY AWARE THAT IGNORANCE OF THE LAW IS NOT EXCUSE; HOWEVER; I DO HAVE TWO COMMENTS REGARDING MY INFRACTION. THERE HAS BEEN NO FORMAL NOTIFICATION FROM THE FAA REGARDING SPECIFIC RESTRS; NOR HAVE THE NEWSPAPERS PROVIDED ANY INFO. IT WOULD NEVER OCCUR TO ME (OR ANYONE I HAVE TALKED TO) TO CALL FSS FOR A BRIEF LOCAL SIGHTSEEING FLT. FINALLY; I ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AS PIC FOR NOT CONSIDERING THE RESTRS NOW IN PLACE; BECAUSE OF THE WTC/PENTAGON DISASTER; HOWEVER; I FEEL IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE S BEND CTLR TO MENTION IT TO ME. AS I PASSED THROUGH THEIR AIRSPACE; WITH THEIR APPROVAL; I NOTIFIED THEM NOT ONCE; BUT TWICE OF MY INTENTIONS AND NOTHING WAS SAID TO ME. THE ELKHART CTLR TOLD ME IT WAS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY; IT IS THE PIC'S RESPONSIBILITY. UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES; AND/OR THE PRESSURE OF A HEAVY WORKLOAD; THIS REASON WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE; BUT THESE ARE NO LONGER NORMAL TIMES; THEIR WORKLOAD IS CONSIDERABLY LIGHTER AND A LITTLE COURTESY AND CONSIDERATION WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS SIT COMPLETELY.