Small aircraft penetrates arsa descending for WX avoidance.

Attributes
ACN	125905
Time
Date	198910
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bur
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 7500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bur
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 9 flight time total : 117 flight time type : 11
ASRS Report	125905
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was traveling wbound en route to vny. The WX was not the very best. The tops of the clouds were about 10000', however were scattered around 4000'. There were also thunderstorm clouds in the vicinity of our aircraft. We were cruising at an altitude of about 7500'. All of a sudden, there was a thunderstorm cloud right in front of us. I had 2 options--either proceed forward and enter the thunderstorm cloud or go under it. Since I was not instrument rated, I chose to proceed under the cloud. I dropped my power completely and started to descend rapidly. When I felt I was out of danger, I noticed that I was at an altitude of about 2500'. I then realized that I might have possibly entered bur's airspace. I then started to climb in hopes of correcting that problem, if any. I was informed of what happened when I went back to brackett airport and was told by ground control to contact them when I entered the fixed base operator where I rent my aircraft from. I am fully aware of what happened, and do realize how lucky we are that no one was injured. The situation could have been disastrous.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PENETRATES ARSA DESCENDING FOR WX AVOIDANCE.

Narrative: I WAS TRAVELING WBOUND ENRTE TO VNY. THE WX WAS NOT THE VERY BEST. THE TOPS OF THE CLOUDS WERE ABOUT 10000', HOWEVER WERE SCATTERED AROUND 4000'. THERE WERE ALSO TSTM CLOUDS IN THE VICINITY OF OUR ACFT. WE WERE CRUISING AT AN ALT OF ABOUT 7500'. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THERE WAS A TSTM CLOUD RIGHT IN FRONT OF US. I HAD 2 OPTIONS--EITHER PROCEED FORWARD AND ENTER THE TSTM CLOUD OR GO UNDER IT. SINCE I WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED, I CHOSE TO PROCEED UNDER THE CLOUD. I DROPPED MY PWR COMPLETELY AND STARTED TO DSND RAPIDLY. WHEN I FELT I WAS OUT OF DANGER, I NOTICED THAT I WAS AT AN ALT OF ABOUT 2500'. I THEN REALIZED THAT I MIGHT HAVE POSSIBLY ENTERED BUR'S AIRSPACE. I THEN STARTED TO CLB IN HOPES OF CORRECTING THAT PROB, IF ANY. I WAS INFORMED OF WHAT HAPPENED WHEN I WENT BACK TO BRACKETT ARPT AND WAS TOLD BY GND CTL TO CONTACT THEM WHEN I ENTERED THE FIXED BASE OPERATOR WHERE I RENT MY ACFT FROM. I AM FULLY AWARE OF WHAT HAPPENED, AND DO REALIZE HOW LUCKY WE ARE THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.