GA pilot inadvertently enters ZLA positive control area by climbing above 18000'.

Attributes
ACN	174388
Time
Date	199103
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sli airport : sna
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 17500 msl bound upper : 19200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla tower : hou
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 985 flight time type : 610
ASRS Report	174388
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I departed john wayne VFR and contacted coast departure control for advisories en route to lake tahoe. When handed off to ZLA, I informed them my proposed altitude would be 12500'. I made a series of climbing 360 degree turns to 12500'. Center called an said to resume my own navigation and would I now be continuing heading north? I confirmed that, but there were large buildups of clouds in that area. I called center a few mins later to advise that I was starting a series of climbing turns to 16500'. They acknowledged and asked if I was using O2. I confirmed that I had been using O2 since 10500' MSL. The clouds and haze to the northwest were a little better, but to the southeast were much more favorable at that altitude. I contacted center that I was changing course to southeast and climbing to 17500' where haze appeared thinner and cloud buildups ended. Over this period of time, I had made several power settings and climb attitude changes. While continuing southeast I was asked by center, 'what is your altitude?' I then realized that I was at 19200', retrimmed the aircraft and started an immediate descent to the appropriate altitude for my southeast heading. Center contacted me and asked that I call them in la after I had landed. At that time I informed center that I would be returning to john wayne airport. I contacted them by phone immediately upon landing. What could have helped my situation might have been an earlier contact by center, workload permitting, in regards to my altitude. I do realize the potential danger of my situation, and have learned from it.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA PLT INADVERTENTLY ENTERS ZLA PCA BY CLIMBING ABOVE 18000'.

Narrative: I DEPARTED JOHN WAYNE VFR AND CONTACTED COAST DEP CTL FOR ADVISORIES ENRTE TO LAKE TAHOE. WHEN HANDED OFF TO ZLA, I INFORMED THEM MY PROPOSED ALT WOULD BE 12500'. I MADE A SERIES OF CLBING 360 DEG TURNS TO 12500'. CENTER CALLED AN SAID TO RESUME MY OWN NAV AND WOULD I NOW BE CONTINUING HDG N? I CONFIRMED THAT, BUT THERE WERE LARGE BUILDUPS OF CLOUDS IN THAT AREA. I CALLED CENTER A FEW MINS LATER TO ADVISE THAT I WAS STARTING A SERIES OF CLBING TURNS TO 16500'. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED AND ASKED IF I WAS USING O2. I CONFIRMED THAT I HAD BEEN USING O2 SINCE 10500' MSL. THE CLOUDS AND HAZE TO THE NW WERE A LITTLE BETTER, BUT TO THE SE WERE MUCH MORE FAVORABLE AT THAT ALT. I CONTACTED CENTER THAT I WAS CHANGING COURSE TO SE AND CLBING TO 17500' WHERE HAZE APPEARED THINNER AND CLOUD BUILDUPS ENDED. OVER THIS PERIOD OF TIME, I HAD MADE SEVERAL PWR SETTINGS AND CLB ATTITUDE CHANGES. WHILE CONTINUING SE I WAS ASKED BY CENTER, 'WHAT IS YOUR ALT?' I THEN REALIZED THAT I WAS AT 19200', RETRIMMED THE ACFT AND STARTED AN IMMEDIATE DSNT TO THE APPROPRIATE ALT FOR MY SE HDG. CENTER CONTACTED ME AND ASKED THAT I CALL THEM IN LA AFTER I HAD LANDED. AT THAT TIME I INFORMED CENTER THAT I WOULD BE RETURNING TO JOHN WAYNE ARPT. I CONTACTED THEM BY PHONE IMMEDIATELY UPON LNDG. WHAT COULD HAVE HELPED MY SITUATION MIGHT HAVE BEEN AN EARLIER CONTACT BY CENTER, WORKLOAD PERMITTING, IN REGARDS TO MY ALT. I DO REALIZE THE POTENTIAL DANGER OF MY SITUATION, AND HAVE LEARNED FROM IT.

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.