Unauthorized penetration of airspace by small aircraft private pilot in a night operation.

Attributes
ACN	191387
Time
Date	199110
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sbd airport : ccb
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11500 msl bound upper : 19700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla tracon : ont tracon : atl
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 22 flight time total : 425 flight time type : 270
ASRS Report	191387
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : exited penetrated airspace other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flight was night VFR passenger scenic. Outside air temperature was +18 degree F. After 1 hour my passenger was trying to eat popcorn and talk, but was 'gibberish'. By altimeter was indicating approximately 11500 steady, however, I noticed a steady rate of climb indication of 120 FPM, and mt san gorgonio (11000 ft) appeared unusually small. I contacted ontario approach and asked for mode C readout. They informed me that los angeles center read me at 19700 MSL. The controller recommended rapping on the panel. I began a descent for cable airport (home FBO) and banged on the panel above the altimeter. It immediately jumped to 16400 and was moving again. After landing, I left a note to the FBO to have it checked. Factors: I should have noticed a shallow climb with other instruments, however, I had no sleep for 36 hours and thought I was doing a nice job of maintaining my eastbound cruise altitude of 11500.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNAUTHORIZED PENETRATION OF AIRSPACE BY SMA PRIVATE PLT IN A NIGHT OP.

Narrative: FLT WAS NIGHT VFR PAX SCENIC. OUTSIDE AIR TEMP WAS +18 DEG F. AFTER 1 HR MY PAX WAS TRYING TO EAT POPCORN AND TALK, BUT WAS 'GIBBERISH'. BY ALTIMETER WAS INDICATING APPROX 11500 STEADY, HOWEVER, I NOTICED A STEADY RATE OF CLB INDICATION OF 120 FPM, AND MT SAN GORGONIO (11000 FT) APPEARED UNUSUALLY SMALL. I CONTACTED ONTARIO APCH AND ASKED FOR MODE C READOUT. THEY INFORMED ME THAT LOS ANGELES CENTER READ ME AT 19700 MSL. THE CTLR RECOMMENDED RAPPING ON THE PANEL. I BEGAN A DSCNT FOR CABLE ARPT (HOME FBO) AND BANGED ON THE PANEL ABOVE THE ALTIMETER. IT IMMEDIATELY JUMPED TO 16400 AND WAS MOVING AGAIN. AFTER LNDG, I LEFT A NOTE TO THE FBO TO HAVE IT CHKED. FACTORS: I SHOULD HAVE NOTICED A SHALLOW CLB WITH OTHER INSTS, HOWEVER, I HAD NO SLEEP FOR 36 HRS AND THOUGHT I WAS DOING A NICE JOB OF MAINTAINING MY EBOUND CRUISE ALT OF 11500.

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.