Recent qualified private pilot enters TCA without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	132793
Time
Date	199001
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sfo
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oak tower : sfo tower : sql
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 : 24 flight time total : 79 flight time type : 77
ASRS Report	132793
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departed livermore airport at dusk after getting ATIS at san carlos (sql) and livermore, intending to land at sql. WX was haze with 3 mi visibility. I am an inexperienced pilot having received my private certificate 2 days prior (1/xx/90). When flying toward sql over sf bay I mistook dumbarton bridge for san mateo bridge. I then headed east for coast and when I saw airport, I realized it was sfo (and I was in TCA). Since I was already speaking with sql tower I notified them and requested a squawk code and immediately turned away from sfo airspace, while keeping inbound traffic in sight. Sql tower gave me a squawk code and told me to contact sfo tower. I contacted sfo tower and was out of the TCA in about 2 mins without coming close to any other aircraft. This incident could have been avoided if 1) I had better training/experience in the route from livermore/east bay area to sql, 2) I had better training/experience in low visibility situations, 3) if I had RNAV or other radio equipment on board to locate sql, 4) there were a VOR at sql, 5) I had requested vectoring from sql earlier.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RECENT QUALIFIED PRIVATE PLT ENTERS TCA WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: DEPARTED LIVERMORE ARPT AT DUSK AFTER GETTING ATIS AT SAN CARLOS (SQL) AND LIVERMORE, INTENDING TO LAND AT SQL. WX WAS HAZE WITH 3 MI VISIBILITY. I AM AN INEXPERIENCED PLT HAVING RECEIVED MY PRIVATE CERTIFICATE 2 DAYS PRIOR (1/XX/90). WHEN FLYING TOWARD SQL OVER SF BAY I MISTOOK DUMBARTON BRIDGE FOR SAN MATEO BRIDGE. I THEN HEADED E FOR COAST AND WHEN I SAW ARPT, I REALIZED IT WAS SFO (AND I WAS IN TCA). SINCE I WAS ALREADY SPEAKING WITH SQL TWR I NOTIFIED THEM AND REQUESTED A SQUAWK CODE AND IMMEDIATELY TURNED AWAY FROM SFO AIRSPACE, WHILE KEEPING INBND TFC IN SIGHT. SQL TWR GAVE ME A SQUAWK CODE AND TOLD ME TO CONTACT SFO TWR. I CONTACTED SFO TWR AND WAS OUT OF THE TCA IN ABOUT 2 MINS WITHOUT COMING CLOSE TO ANY OTHER ACFT. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF 1) I HAD BETTER TRAINING/EXPERIENCE IN THE ROUTE FROM LIVERMORE/EAST BAY AREA TO SQL, 2) I HAD BETTER TRAINING/EXPERIENCE IN LOW VISIBILITY SITUATIONS, 3) IF I HAD RNAV OR OTHER RADIO EQUIPMENT ON BOARD TO LOCATE SQL, 4) THERE WERE A VOR AT SQL, 5) I HAD REQUESTED VECTORING FROM SQL EARLIER.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.