Possible penetration of TCA without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	236842
Time
Date	199303
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lax airport : ful
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lax tower : fok
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 : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 1300 flight time type : 750
ASRS Report	236842
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After multiple briefings from hawthorne flight service, ful WX showed significant improvement prompting departure. Scattered bases at 2500 ft, tops variable to 4000 ft. I expected to be on top by 3500 ft, found that lowest layer building rapidly to 4000 ft. While maneuvering to remain VFR, heading indicated that I may have penetrated 25 NM radius/4000 ft floor of TCA sector. Made immediate deviation to remain clear. Not sure if actual penetration occurred, but became very aware of operational complications caused by variable clouds (layers) under TCA floors, and difficulty to stay safe and legal at same time. Loss of visual references added to situation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: POSSIBLE PENETRATION OF TCA WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: AFTER MULTIPLE BRIEFINGS FROM HAWTHORNE FLT SVC, FUL WX SHOWED SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT PROMPTING DEP. SCATTERED BASES AT 2500 FT, TOPS VARIABLE TO 4000 FT. I EXPECTED TO BE ON TOP BY 3500 FT, FOUND THAT LOWEST LAYER BUILDING RAPIDLY TO 4000 FT. WHILE MANEUVERING TO REMAIN VFR, HDG INDICATED THAT I MAY HAVE PENETRATED 25 NM RADIUS/4000 FT FLOOR OF TCA SECTOR. MADE IMMEDIATE DEV TO REMAIN CLR. NOT SURE IF ACTUAL PENETRATION OCCURRED, BUT BECAME VERY AWARE OF OPERATIONAL COMPLICATIONS CAUSED BY VARIABLE CLOUDS (LAYERS) UNDER TCA FLOORS, AND DIFFICULTY TO STAY SAFE AND LEGAL AT SAME TIME. LOSS OF VISUAL REFS ADDED TO SIT.

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.