Narrative:

Reporter was in back seat of piper super cub (PA-18-150). Owner pilot was in the front seat. Purpose was evaluation of proficiency for biennial flight review. Normal departure to southeast from runway 20 is the sse to avoid class C airspace. In this instance pilot climbed direct on approximately 110 degree heading and climbed through the class C, clipping across the southern portion of the class C. Squawking 1200. There was no conflict with traffic, and were in class C for approximately 5 min. Pilot remained blissfully unaware. However, debriefing post flight corrected situation. Since mather AFB is closed (deactivated) and closed to general aviation and military, there is a question among the flying community if the mather class C is active. It is, however, depicted on the sectional chart. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: on callback reporter stated that some traffic still does go in and out of mhr, but very little. Local pilots have discussed the airspace requirements and no one seems to be aware of its current status. Reporter could not see over the aircraft in the climb and they were already in the class C airspace when he became aware. He pointed this out to the pilot and they immediately exited. Sac TRACON operations was contacted to follow up on the status of mhr at this time. After 10/13 the class C airspace around mather will no longer exist. The circle around mcclellan will close and exclude mhr. There is currently no tower there so TRACON assists with approachs but doesn't know what other activities occur.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA ON CLB ENTERS CLASS C AIRSPACE WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: RPTR WAS IN BACK SEAT OF PIPER SUPER CUB (PA-18-150). OWNER PLT WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT. PURPOSE WAS EVALUATION OF PROFICIENCY FOR BIENNIAL FLT REVIEW. NORMAL DEP TO SE FROM RWY 20 IS THE SSE TO AVOID CLASS C AIRSPACE. IN THIS INSTANCE PLT CLBED DIRECT ON APPROX 110 DEG HDG AND CLBED THROUGH THE CLASS C, CLIPPING ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE CLASS C. SQUAWKING 1200. THERE WAS NO CONFLICT WITH TFC, AND WERE IN CLASS C FOR APPROX 5 MIN. PLT REMAINED BLISSFULLY UNAWARE. HOWEVER, DEBRIEFING POST FLT CORRECTED SIT. SINCE MATHER AFB IS CLOSED (DEACTIVATED) AND CLOSED TO GENERAL AVIATION AND MIL, THERE IS A QUESTION AMONG THE FLYING COMMUNITY IF THE MATHER CLASS C IS ACTIVE. IT IS, HOWEVER, DEPICTED ON THE SECTIONAL CHART. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: ON CALLBACK RPTR STATED THAT SOME TFC STILL DOES GO IN AND OUT OF MHR, BUT VERY LITTLE. LCL PLTS HAVE DISCUSSED THE AIRSPACE REQUIREMENTS AND NO ONE SEEMS TO BE AWARE OF ITS CURRENT STATUS. RPTR COULD NOT SEE OVER THE ACFT IN THE CLB AND THEY WERE ALREADY IN THE CLASS C AIRSPACE WHEN HE BECAME AWARE. HE POINTED THIS OUT TO THE PLT AND THEY IMMEDIATELY EXITED. SAC TRACON OPS WAS CONTACTED TO FOLLOW UP ON THE STATUS OF MHR AT THIS TIME. AFTER 10/13 THE CLASS C AIRSPACE AROUND MATHER WILL NO LONGER EXIST. THE CIRCLE AROUND MCCLELLAN WILL CLOSE AND EXCLUDE MHR. THERE IS CURRENTLY NO TWR THERE SO TRACON ASSISTS WITH APCHS BUT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT OTHER ACTIVITIES OCCUR.

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.