Small aircraft penetrates arsa making WX avoidance turn.

Attributes
ACN	125909
Time
Date	198910
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ont
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ont
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	125909
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 flying en route to psp at an altitude of about 3500'. The tops of the clouds were about 10000', but at 4200' they were scattered. While en route I noticed a big cloud mass drifting toward us, so I banked right to avoid any confrontation. I knew where I was at all times, however, and in no way did I feel I entered ont's airspace. When I realized the clouds were getting darker and darker, I immediately did a 180 degree turn and headed wbound. I realized that I was accused of entering their airspace when I got back to brackett and was told by ground control to contact them as soon as possible. I really don't know what can be done to correct the problem, because I did have my charts out and I did know exactly where I was. As I stated earlier, I feel I did not enter ont's airspace.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PENETRATES ARSA MAKING WX AVOIDANCE TURN.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING ENRTE TO PSP AT AN ALT OF ABOUT 3500'. THE TOPS OF THE CLOUDS WERE ABOUT 10000', BUT AT 4200' THEY WERE SCATTERED. WHILE ENRTE I NOTICED A BIG CLOUD MASS DRIFTING TOWARD US, SO I BANKED RIGHT TO AVOID ANY CONFRONTATION. I KNEW WHERE I WAS AT ALL TIMES, HOWEVER, AND IN NO WAY DID I FEEL I ENTERED ONT'S AIRSPACE. WHEN I REALIZED THE CLOUDS WERE GETTING DARKER AND DARKER, I IMMEDIATELY DID A 180 DEG TURN AND HEADED WBOUND. I REALIZED THAT I WAS ACCUSED OF ENTERING THEIR AIRSPACE WHEN I GOT BACK TO BRACKETT AND WAS TOLD BY GND CTL TO CONTACT THEM ASAP. I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE TO CORRECT THE PROB, BECAUSE I DID HAVE MY CHARTS OUT AND I DID KNOW EXACTLY WHERE I WAS. AS I STATED EARLIER, I FEEL I DID NOT ENTER ONT'S AIRSPACE.

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.