Reporter flew through sea class D airspace without establishing contact with the tower.

Attributes
ACN	279446
Time
Date	199408
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sea airport : s50
State Reference	WA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 48 flight time total : 166 flight time type : 63
ASRS Report	279446
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

In an attempt to navigation below the sea class B airspace I flew through sea class D airspace without talking to sea tower. I was on a VFR flight from port angeles (clm) to auburn (S50). As I flew on the west side of sea at 1500 ft on a heading of 150 degrees, I estimate I flew within 3.5 mi of sea. This violation was caused by my error in interpreting the symbols on the terminal area chart. I was concerned with the 100/20 class B symbol so I figured I would fly under it at 1500 ft. I failed to realize that there was also a (minus 20) symbol on the chart meaning that class D airspace extended from the surface to 2000 ft. I routinely fly to bfi and rnt from S50. These flts take me through sea class D airspace to the east of sea. On these flts I just talk to bfi or rnt tower. Part of my confusion was caused by the fact that I got used to flying to the east of sea without talking to sea tower. Obviously very different rules apply between flight to the east and west of sea. I do not know what can be done to correct the situation: the airspace around sea is very complex and even the sea terminal area chart is very cluttered with symbols. I now realize my error and will try very diligently not to repeat it. Perhaps the FAA should have a wings program on navigating around the seattle area.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR FLEW THROUGH SEA CLASS D AIRSPACE WITHOUT ESTABLISHING CONTACT WITH THE TWR.

Narrative: IN AN ATTEMPT TO NAV BELOW THE SEA CLASS B AIRSPACE I FLEW THROUGH SEA CLASS D AIRSPACE WITHOUT TALKING TO SEA TWR. I WAS ON A VFR FLT FROM PORT ANGELES (CLM) TO AUBURN (S50). AS I FLEW ON THE W SIDE OF SEA AT 1500 FT ON A HDG OF 150 DEGS, I ESTIMATE I FLEW WITHIN 3.5 MI OF SEA. THIS VIOLATION WAS CAUSED BY MY ERROR IN INTERPRETING THE SYMBOLS ON THE TERMINAL AREA CHART. I WAS CONCERNED WITH THE 100/20 CLASS B SYMBOL SO I FIGURED I WOULD FLY UNDER IT AT 1500 FT. I FAILED TO REALIZE THAT THERE WAS ALSO A (MINUS 20) SYMBOL ON THE CHART MEANING THAT CLASS D AIRSPACE EXTENDED FROM THE SURFACE TO 2000 FT. I ROUTINELY FLY TO BFI AND RNT FROM S50. THESE FLTS TAKE ME THROUGH SEA CLASS D AIRSPACE TO THE E OF SEA. ON THESE FLTS I JUST TALK TO BFI OR RNT TWR. PART OF MY CONFUSION WAS CAUSED BY THE FACT THAT I GOT USED TO FLYING TO THE E OF SEA WITHOUT TALKING TO SEA TWR. OBVIOUSLY VERY DIFFERENT RULES APPLY BTWN FLT TO THE E AND W OF SEA. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE TO CORRECT THE SIT: THE AIRSPACE AROUND SEA IS VERY COMPLEX AND EVEN THE SEA TERMINAL AREA CHART IS VERY CLUTTERED WITH SYMBOLS. I NOW REALIZE MY ERROR AND WILL TRY VERY DILIGENTLY NOT TO REPEAT IT. PERHAPS THE FAA SHOULD HAVE A WINGS PROGRAM ON NAVIGATING AROUND THE SEATTLE AREA.

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.