Help - I busted into the Class B SEATAC airspace last night, does anyone have any advice ?

I did call and they were very understanding. As soon as I landed last night
Twr (118.3) gave me a phone number to call which I did. I 'fessed up and was
very appologetic as I was the idiot, no question. They said not to worry too
much about it as it does happen with low time pilots all the time.
Unfortunately due to the traffic load and new rules since 9/11 they have
filed paperwork but they did say that if the Investigation Board wants to
pursue it they will tell them that I was very cooperative and that I made a
genuine mistake and am very sorry. I did found out from the FAA this morning
that I set off TCAS on 2 big jets on finals - Ouch.!!! The Twr supervisor
has called me a couple of times today and has been really great, very
understanding and supportive. He is going to call again later to let me know
what the radar trace looks like.

Bottom line is I think I may get away with a warning letter and some
remedial work . However, if they do suspend my license, I will eat it up and
ask for an extra slice of humble pie for dessert. I have absolutely no
excuse, I knew better and I went against my own judgment. I knew it wasn't a
good idea to go and I went anyway, the biggest mistake a pilot can make. I
had a bad feeling on the ground and I chose to ignore it. It was gusting on
the field at 18kts for Petes sake !! What was I thinking ??. Winds aloft
were 33 kts @ 3000

It's been a wake up call. I have to say that I am very lucky to be on the
ground today as there were moments I wasn't sure we were going to make it
back to BFI.
I've got a 115 hours, half way through I.R. Part 141 and have become a bit
over confident and complacent. I have forgotten how really inexperienced low
time like this is. I am still learning and when I've got 5000 hrs I will
still be learning. The best pilots are the old pilots who've made it that
far. Not because they were Chuck Yeager's but becuse they knew their limits
and knew how to be safe. It's all about being safe.

Fly Safe Everyone (Please !!!)

steve mew

PS Thanks for all the responses and support !



"Craig Prouse" wrote in message
...
Jeff wrote:

You did not call them as soon as you were on the ground?

That's an interesting reading of the post. How were you able to reach any
conclusion as to whether the author did or did not call?


[some snippage]
I would have called them upon landing to see what they had to say.

Yeah, when they tell you to call, it's a good idea to call.

He probably did call, and got to talk to the tower supervisor. That
person
probably can't say at that exact moment whether or not they plan to pursue
an enforcement action, or whether the FSDO will follow up on it, or
whether
it would be beneficial to hire a lawyer, or otherwise answer any number of
questions.

steve mew wrote:

.... the biggest mistake a pilot can make.

No, not the biggest. You're still alive. Hell, the plane isn't even damaged.

George Patterson
You can dress a hog in a tuxedo, but he still wants to roll in the mud.

based on all that... you may end up with a "601 ride".. do they still call
it that?.. prepare for it with an instructor.. it could be as little as
duplicating the "planned departure".. to almost a full ride to Private PTS
standards..

filing the NTSB is good..

BT

"steve mew" wrote in message
...
I did call and they were very understanding. As soon as I landed last
night
Twr (118.3) gave me a phone number to call which I did. I 'fessed up and
was
very appologetic as I was the idiot, no question. They said not to worry
too
much about it as it does happen with low time pilots all the time.
Unfortunately due to the traffic load and new rules since 9/11 they have
filed paperwork but they did say that if the Investigation Board wants to
pursue it they will tell them that I was very cooperative and that I made
a
genuine mistake and am very sorry. I did found out from the FAA this
morning
that I set off TCAS on 2 big jets on finals - Ouch.!!! The Twr supervisor
has called me a couple of times today and has been really great, very
understanding and supportive. He is going to call again later to let me
know
what the radar trace looks like.

Bottom line is I think I may get away with a warning letter and some
remedial work . However, if they do suspend my license, I will eat it up
and
ask for an extra slice of humble pie for dessert. I have absolutely no
excuse, I knew better and I went against my own judgment. I knew it wasn't
a
good idea to go and I went anyway, the biggest mistake a pilot can make. I
had a bad feeling on the ground and I chose to ignore it. It was gusting
on
the field at 18kts for Petes sake !! What was I thinking ??. Winds aloft
were 33 kts @ 3000

It's been a wake up call. I have to say that I am very lucky to be on the
ground today as there were moments I wasn't sure we were going to make it
back to BFI.
I've got a 115 hours, half way through I.R. Part 141 and have become a bit
over confident and complacent. I have forgotten how really inexperienced
low
time like this is. I am still learning and when I've got 5000 hrs I will
still be learning. The best pilots are the old pilots who've made it that
far. Not because they were Chuck Yeager's but becuse they knew their
limits
and knew how to be safe. It's all about being safe.

Fly Safe Everyone (Please !!!)

steve mew

PS Thanks for all the responses and support !



"Craig Prouse" wrote in message
...
Jeff wrote:

You did not call them as soon as you were on the ground?

That's an interesting reading of the post. How were you able to reach
any
conclusion as to whether the author did or did not call?


[some snippage]
I would have called them upon landing to see what they had to say.

Yeah, when they tell you to call, it's a good idea to call.

He probably did call, and got to talk to the tower supervisor. That
person
probably can't say at that exact moment whether or not they plan to
pursue
an enforcement action, or whether the FSDO will follow up on it, or
whether
it would be beneficial to hire a lawyer, or otherwise answer any number
of
questions.

"steve mew" wrote in message
It's been a wake up call. I have to say that I am very lucky to be on the
ground today as there were moments I wasn't sure we were going to make it
back to BFI.
I've got a 115 hours, half way through I.R. Part 141 and have become a bit
over confident and complacent. I have forgotten how really inexperienced
low
time like this is. I am still learning and when I've got 5000 hrs I will
still be learning. The best pilots are the old pilots who've made it that
far. Not because they were Chuck Yeager's but becuse they knew their
limits
and knew how to be safe. It's all about being safe.

I have a theory that says all pilots do something that scares the stuff out
of themselves at least once, but that we gain some humility and head
adjustments that are essential ingredients to a long flying life.

As someone will surely point out, this theory is deeply flawed and such
experiences are completely unnecessary...

Anyway, it doubly bad when you have an audience. Thanks for sharing and my
best wishes for a painless outcome. You already got what you need out of
it.

"Maule Driver" wrote in message
m...
I have a theory that says all pilots do something that scares the stuff
out
of themselves at least once, but that we gain some humility and head
adjustments that are essential ingredients to a long flying life.

As someone will surely point out, this theory is deeply flawed and such
experiences are completely unnecessary...

Your theory would only be flawed if it said "all pilots must do
something...". As near as I can tell, it doesn't. And otherwise, it seems
accurate.

Thanks for noticing the careful wording.

It goes without saying I have a few stories....that I don't want to share.
Anybody else want to share?

"Peter Duniho" wrote in message
...
"Maule Driver" wrote in message
m...
I have a theory that says all pilots do something that scares the stuff
out
of themselves at least once, but that we gain some humility and head
adjustments that are essential ingredients to a long flying life.

As someone will surely point out, this theory is deeply flawed and such
experiences are completely unnecessary...

Your theory would only be flawed if it said "all pilots must do
something...". As near as I can tell, it doesn't. And otherwise, it
seems
accurate.

"Maule Driver" wrote:
It goes without saying I have a few stories....that I don't want to
share. Anybody else want to share?

No way! Too embarrassing!
--
Dan
C172RG at BFM

Steve,

I really like your attitude after the event. Live and learn!

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

"steve mew" wrote:

I am very lucky to be on the
ground today as there were moments I wasn't sure we were going to make it
back to BFI.

Full bag of luck and empty bag of experience when you start.
Looks like you just moved some stuff over to the experience
bag. Try not to empty the bag of luck before the bag of
experience has enough in it to get you through. :-)
Todd Pattist
(Remove DONTSPAMME from address to email reply.)
___
Make a commitment to learn something from every flight.
Share what you learn.

Hey when you know the outcome of this, can you post it and let us know. I am
kinda interested to see how they handle things like this there.

steve mew wrote:

I did call and they were very understanding. As soon as I landed last night
Twr (118.3) gave me a phone number to call which I did. I 'fessed up and was
very appologetic as I was the idiot, no question. They said not to worry too
much about it as it does happen with low time pilots all the time.
Unfortunately due to the traffic load and new rules since 9/11 they have
filed paperwork but they did say that if the Investigation Board wants to
pursue it they will tell them that I was very cooperative and that I made a
genuine mistake and am very sorry. I did found out from the FAA this morning
that I set off TCAS on 2 big jets on finals - Ouch.!!! The Twr supervisor
has called me a couple of times today and has been really great, very
understanding and supportive. He is going to call again later to let me know
what the radar trace looks like.

Bottom line is I think I may get away with a warning letter and some
remedial work . However, if they do suspend my license, I will eat it up and
ask for an extra slice of humble pie for dessert. I have absolutely no
excuse, I knew better and I went against my own judgment. I knew it wasn't a
good idea to go and I went anyway, the biggest mistake a pilot can make. I
had a bad feeling on the ground and I chose to ignore it. It was gusting on
the field at 18kts for Petes sake !! What was I thinking ??. Winds aloft
were 33 kts @ 3000

It's been a wake up call. I have to say that I am very lucky to be on the
ground today as there were moments I wasn't sure we were going to make it
back to BFI.
I've got a 115 hours, half way through I.R. Part 141 and have become a bit
over confident and complacent. I have forgotten how really inexperienced low
time like this is. I am still learning and when I've got 5000 hrs I will
still be learning. The best pilots are the old pilots who've made it that
far. Not because they were Chuck Yeager's but becuse they knew their limits
and knew how to be safe. It's all about being safe.

Fly Safe Everyone (Please !!!)

steve mew

PS Thanks for all the responses and support !

"Craig Prouse" wrote in message
...
Jeff wrote:

You did not call them as soon as you were on the ground?

That's an interesting reading of the post. How were you able to reach any
conclusion as to whether the author did or did not call?


[some snippage]
I would have called them upon landing to see what they had to say.

Yeah, when they tell you to call, it's a good idea to call.

He probably did call, and got to talk to the tower supervisor. That
person
probably can't say at that exact moment whether or not they plan to pursue
an enforcement action, or whether the FSDO will follow up on it, or
whether
it would be beneficial to hire a lawyer, or otherwise answer any number of
questions.