Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 2; Flight Crew Total 1100; Flight Crew Type 1000
Distraction; Training / Qualification; Confusion; Workload
ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Airspace Structure; Company Policy; Procedure
I was conducting practice approaches and was in contact with Approach. I was the pilot-in-command; with a CFI from a local flight school acting as safety pilot. We had requested and were given the ILS runway 4 approach; had been cleared onto the final approach course; and had instructions to expect a circle-to-land to runway 22 (this was the active runway) although my intention was not to land but to proceed to another practice approach. Upon intercepting the final approach course and proceeding inbound; I had some expectation to be turned over to tower frequency; but I don't recall this occurring until nearing the airport; when Cherry Point asked if I had contacted the tower; at which I point I did so and was informed of a potential airspace violation and to call the tower manager at a specified number. At that point I returned to land and called the number that was provided and spoke to the controller. I was informed the manager was not present but to speak with him the following morning. I have been informed this was considered a violation as it did not occur while flying on an instrument flight plan; and it was therefore my responsibility to contact the tower for clearance.
I was asked to be safety pilot for another pilot practicing instrument approaches under VFR conditions. We discussed whom would be in charge of the radios for the flight and it was made clear to me that I was not to handle the radios as he (the one practicing approaches) only needed a safety pilot; nothing else. The pilot flying wanted to practice the ILS approach. Approach cleared us for the approach then moments later advised it would be a 'circling approach to...' The last radio call from Approach I heard was 'intercept the ILS maintain VFR at or above 1;600.' I was being extra vigilant focusing all my attention outside the aircraft looking for traffic because I knew this approach was in the opposite direction of general traffic flow. I never heard Approach tell us to contact tower. I am not certain we ever received the call and he said he never was told that either. As we begin to approach the runway I said 'you never switched to tower'. Seconds later Cherry Point approach called to say 'did you contact tower?' and he responded 'contacting them now' then he switched to tower and was told a phone number to call after landing. I believe the inexperience of the pilot flying with the local area and his poor cockpit organization were contributing factors along with perhaps approach not advising him to switch frequencies although I am not 100% certain if they didn't or if he just missed the call. In the future when performing safety pilot duties I will ensure I am monitoring the radios more vigilantly regardless of whether or not I am the one in charge of them.
C172 pilots reported they did not recall an instruction to contact the Tower until already having entered the Tower's airspace.