Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 41; Flight Crew Total 6100; Flight Crew Type 165
Other / Unknown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Aircraft; Human Factors; Airspace Structure
The purpose of the flight was to photograph a coal ash pond that had recently been the site of an accident in northeast West Virginia. Prior to departing; I obtained a preflight briefing using the computer service at my home FBO. This service (WSI) displays a list of NOTAM's for a route of flight. I reviewed the list and did not see any mention of a TFR. I also use the 'Aviator' service from XM which transmits real time TFR information via satellite for display on my GPS moving map. I thought I had the TFR base covered. Upon return to my home base; ATC told me to call. I did and they said I had violated a TFR described in NOTAM that was centered on the exact spot we were photographing. It was a 1-mile radius around the pond up to 3;000 FT. We violated the TFR. There are two possible explanations and one solution. One is the FAA; WSI and/or XM did not properly disseminate the TFR information and it simply was not on the computer or my GPS map to be seen. The second is that I somehow simply missed the NOTAM in the long list that the WSI service displays. The solution; I now know; is to not rely on technology but to call Flight Service and talk to a human. That is my lesson learned.
Cessna pilot is advised after landing that he has violated a TFR located over a coal ash pond. The TFR NOTAM was not noticed on a list provided by WSI nor seen on the GPS moving map display with XM.