Small aircraft pilot departed airport through control zone without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	237412
Time
Date	199303
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dnv
State Reference	IL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : cmi
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : initial climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 315 flight time type : 80
ASRS Report	237412
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I flew an small aircraft on an IFR cross country from 3i3 to dnv. No problems occurred. On the return trip, the local FBO informed me that the ceiling was 1900 overcast and 2 3/4 r-f (danville is an uncontrolled field with a control zone). As many times before, I tried to contact approach from the ramp but was unable this time. I reasoned that, if I taxied to runway 16, which is higher in elevation, that I would be able to contact approach as I have done many times before. I could hear pilots talking to champaign approach but could not get a response from approach. I reasoned that, with a couple of hundred ft of altitude, I would be able to contact approach. I was able to hear approach but not enough to communication. I decided since the visibility seemed greater than 3 mi, which, of course, would make the field VFR, to continue out of the control zone at 500 ft AGL to uncontrolled airspace. I never could communication with champaign approach, but eventually reached hulman regional approach. Hulman cleared me the remainder of the route to 3i3. I cancelled my IFR flight plan with hulman approach. I believe I might be violated because I did not get clearance through the control zone. I believe the field was MVFR. I remained clear of clouds at all times, and had greater than 3 mi visibility.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT DEPARTED ARPT THROUGH CTL ZONE WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: I FLEW AN SMA ON AN IFR XCOUNTRY FROM 3I3 TO DNV. NO PROBS OCCURRED. ON THE RETURN TRIP, THE LCL FBO INFORMED ME THAT THE CEILING WAS 1900 OVCST AND 2 3/4 R-F (DANVILLE IS AN UNCTLED FIELD WITH A CTL ZONE). AS MANY TIMES BEFORE, I TRIED TO CONTACT APCH FROM THE RAMP BUT WAS UNABLE THIS TIME. I REASONED THAT, IF I TAXIED TO RWY 16, WHICH IS HIGHER IN ELEVATION, THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO CONTACT APCH AS I HAVE DONE MANY TIMES BEFORE. I COULD HEAR PLTS TALKING TO CHAMPAIGN APCH BUT COULD NOT GET A RESPONSE FROM APCH. I REASONED THAT, WITH A COUPLE OF HUNDRED FT OF ALT, I WOULD BE ABLE TO CONTACT APCH. I WAS ABLE TO HEAR APCH BUT NOT ENOUGH TO COM. I DECIDED SINCE THE VISIBILITY SEEMED GREATER THAN 3 MI, WHICH, OF COURSE, WOULD MAKE THE FIELD VFR, TO CONTINUE OUT OF THE CTL ZONE AT 500 FT AGL TO UNCTLED AIRSPACE. I NEVER COULD COM WITH CHAMPAIGN APCH, BUT EVENTUALLY REACHED HULMAN REGIONAL APCH. HULMAN CLRED ME THE REMAINDER OF THE RTE TO 3I3. I CANCELLED MY IFR FLT PLAN WITH HULMAN APCH. I BELIEVE I MIGHT BE VIOLATED BECAUSE I DID NOT GET CLRNC THROUGH THE CTL ZONE. I BELIEVE THE FIELD WAS MVFR. I REMAINED CLR OF CLOUDS AT ALL TIMES, AND HAD GREATER THAN 3 MI VISIBILITY.

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.