SMA PLT DID NOT OBTAIN A DISCRETE TRANSPONDER CODE IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH NOTAM 3/1850; IN DC ADIZ AIRSPACE.
Synopsis
SMA PLT DID NOT OBTAIN A DISCRETE TRANSPONDER CODE IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH NOTAM 3/1850; IN DC ADIZ AIRSPACE.
Narrative
I NEGLECTED TO OBTAIN A DISCRETE TRANSPONDER CODE PRIOR TO DEPARTING JYO ON A SHORT FLT TO FDK AS REQUIRED BY NOTAM 3/1850 THEN IN EFFECT (WASHINGTON ADIZ). I WAS OPERATING BELOW THE CLASS B AIRSPACE IN EXCELLENT VFR CONDITIONS; SQUAWKING 1200; BUT A DISCRETE CODE WAS REQUIRED DUE TO HEIGHTENED SECURITY CONCERNS. UPON LNDG AT FDK I WAS ASKED TO CALL THE POTOMAC TRACON MGR ON DUTY; WHICH I DID. WE HAD A CORDIAL DISCUSSION OF THE ERROR. THIS SIT AROSE BECAUSE I LET MY EMOTIONS GET THE BEST OF ME. I WAS AWARE OF THE NOTAM 3/1850 REQUIREMENT WHEN I DROVE TO JYO IN THE EARLY PM EXPECTING TO FIND THE ACFT IN THE HANGAR. IT WASN'T THERE EVEN THOUGH I HAD RESERVED IT (IT IS A CLUB PLANE) ANOTHER PLT HAD TAKEN IT. I SPENT SOME TIME SWEEPING OUT THE HANGAR; ETC; WHILE GROWING INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATED THAT I WASN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO FLY ON THE FIRST BEAUTIFUL VFR WEEKEND DAY IN A LONG TIME. AS I WAS GETTING IN MY CAR TO HEAD HOME; THE OTHER PLT LANDED. ELATED; I RETURNED TO THE T-HANGAR TO MEET HIM; JUMPED IN THE PLANE AFTER A QUICK PREFLT; AND OFF I WENT--FORGETTING; IN MY ELATION; ABOUT THE NEW SECURITY REQUIREMENT. (THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAD FLOWN SINCE THE REQUIREMENT TOOK EFFECT.) MORAL OF THE STORY: YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME NO MATTER HOW YOU FEEL INSIDE!
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.