PLT OF BE55 VIOLATES TFR IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AFTER FAILING TO OBTAIN A BRIEFING FOR A SHORT FLT IN FAMILIAR AIRSPACE.
Synopsis
PLT OF BE55 VIOLATES TFR IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AFTER FAILING TO OBTAIN A BRIEFING FOR A SHORT FLT IN FAMILIAR AIRSPACE.
Narrative
AN UNPLANNED FLT FROM FULLERTON; CA; TO LAKE PERRIS; CA; WAS CONDUCTED FOR PERSONAL REASONS. FLT WAS CONDUCTED AT AN ALT OF 3000 FT MSL AND VMC PREVAILED. I HAD NOT GOTTEN A BRIEFING FROM FSS BECAUSE OF THE SHORT DISTANCE OF THE FLT AND THE GOOD WX. THIS WAS MY FIRST MISTAKE. I ALSO AVOIDED AIRSPACE THAT WOULD REQUIRE COMS WITH ATC. THIS WAS MY SECOND MISTAKE. HAD I DONE EITHER OF THE TWO; I WOULD HAVE BEEN INFORMED ABOUT THE TFR THAT COVERED THE AREA AROUND LAKE MATTHEWS AND LAKE ELSINORE FOR FIRE FIGHTING PURPOSES. DURING THE FLT; I DID NOT OBSERVE ANY SMOKE UNTIL I WAS SSE OF LAKE MATTHEWS. WHEN I DID OBSERVE THE SMOKE; IT WAS VERY LITTLE. IT WAS AT THIS POINT THAT I THOUGHT I MAY HAVE PENETRATED A TFR AREA. I DID NOT OBSERVE ANY FIRE FIGHTING ACTIVITY DURING ANY PHASE OF THE FLT. NOW I WAS WITHIN APPROX 6 MI OF MY DEST ARPT (L65) AND KNEW PARACHUTE OPS WERE BEING CONDUCTED SO I DECIDED TO CONTINUE TO PERRIS FIELD AND LAND. MY ASSUMPTION WAS THAT IF COMMERCIAL SKYDIVING WAS BEING CONDUCTED; ANY TFR WOULD NOT INCLUDE THAT AREA. WHEN I ARRIVED; I HEARD SOME MENTION ABOUT A TFR IN THE AREA. THIS WAS WHEN I WAS SURE I WENT THROUGH. I REMAINED AT THE ARPT FOR A FEW HRS THEN CALLED RIVERSIDE FSS TO CONFIRM THE TFR AND ITS LOCATION. TO MY DISMAY; MY THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS WERE CONFIRMED. UPON LEAVING; I CONTACTED MARCH APCH AND SOCAL APCH TO GET ADVISORIES AND TO REMAIN CLR OF THE TFR ON THE WAY BACK TO FULLERTON. I USED POOR JUDGEMENT ON THIS FLT. I ASSUMED THAT BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A SHORT FLT; IN GOOD WX; AND OVER FAMILIAR TERRAIN THAT A BRIEFING SHOULD NOT BE NEEDED. I WAS VERY WRONG! I KNOW THAT THE NOTAMS AT THE END OF ALL BRIEFINGS ARE SOMETIMES THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECES OF INFO WE CAN GET. REST ASSURED THAT BRIEFING WILL BE A PART OF EVERY FLT REGARDLESS OF DISTANCE; WX; FAMILIARITY; OR ANY OTHER ASPECT THAT CAUSES COMPLACENCY IN MY THINKING.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.