SMA PLT WAS INTERCEPTED BY A MIL FA-18 AFTER FLYING INTO A TFR AREA. HE WAS ORDERED TO LAND AND WAS INTERROGATED BY SECRET SVC AGENTS.

2003-09 · NASA ASRS report 593733

Date: 2003-09 · Aircraft: Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer · Phase: cruise

Anomalies: airspace-violation-all-types|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-far|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy

Synopsis

SMA PLT WAS INTERCEPTED BY A MIL FA-18 AFTER FLYING INTO A TFR AREA. HE WAS ORDERED TO LAND AND WAS INTERROGATED BY SECRET SVC AGENTS.

Narrative

CALLED ALTOONA; PA; FSS (1-800-WX-BRIEF). TOLD CTLR I WAS FLYING TO SRQ AT 8500 FT MSL; VFR. HE SAID IT WAS LOW CLOUDS AROUND NORTH CAROLINA; BUT I SHOULD BE FINE. I SHOULD HAVE ASKED FOR ANY NOTAMS. STOPPED AT WEST VIRGINIA FOR FUEL. GPS WENT BAD. STOPPED AT RIDGLAND; SOUTH CAROLINA; FOR FUEL. CLBED TO 8500 FT -- TOO MANY CLOUDS. WENT UP TO 10500 FT; CLOUDS WERE TO 10000 FT MSL. JUST GOT TO CRUISE AT 120 KTS. FA-18 TOLD ME TO TURN HDG OF 270 DEGS. COMPLIED; TOLD TO CALL TWR UPON REACHING SARASOTA. ASKED TO SPELL NAME; WAS TOLD TO FLY BACK TO JAX. SECURITY PUT US UNDER ARREST. BOMB DOGS SNIFFED AIRPLANE. JAX SECURITY VERY APOLOGETIC AND PROFESSIONAL. 4 HRS LATER INTERVIEWED BY SECRET SVC. AFTER 10 MINS HE LET MY WIFE AND I GO. TOLD US WE GOT TOO CLOSE TO TEMPORARY RESTR FLT ZONE. TOOK US BACK TO AIRPLANE AND SAID GOOD-BYE. 1) I FAILED TO ASK FSS FOR NOTAM. 2) AIRPLANE OUT OF ANNUAL INSPECTION THE NIGHT BEFORE AND MECH FROM FBO IN ST MARY'S; PA; FUELED AND ASSURED US ACFT WAS OK. AFTER JAX INCIDENT; WE LANDED AT ZEPHER HILLS; FL; ON PARTIAL PANEL AND FUEL INSPECTION PANEL ON PLT'S SIDE WAS HANGING DOWN; ACCOUNTING FOR DRAG. DID REPAIRS; CHANGED HEADSET; BOUGHT NEW GARMIN 196 AT FBO AT SRQ. 3) SHOULD HAVE DONE FLT FOLLOWING. 4) 27 YRS OF UNITED STATES MIL SVC; SHOULD PREPARE BETTER. 5) DID NOT DIP INTO CLOUDS LIKE OTHER ACFT. 6) FOLLOWED ORDERS AND WAS EMBARRASSED.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.

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