Reporter flew into class C airspace without contacting the controling agency.

Attributes
ACN	295376
Time
Date	199502
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : aus airport : 3r3
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2300 msl bound upper : 2600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : aus
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Sport 19
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 2200 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	295376
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

After a business flight from hou, I dropped off my passenger at 3r3. During climb out and en route to the bar-K airport, I lost my panel lights. (I was transitioning under the outer class C veil. The ceiling of which was 2400 ft MSL). By the time I got my flashlight out, I had climbed through my intended cruise altitude of 2300 ft, ATC said I had climbed to 2600 ft. I had contacted ATC for some assistance (vectors) to bark. This whole episode was unintentional. My mistake was not contacting approach when I departed 3r3. My normal daytime routine is to not bother ATC for this short of a flight not destined to a controled field. The fact that this happened at night was a big factor. I just could not see my panel for the small amount of time it took to get my flashlight. If I had been in contact with ATC, there would have been no incursion.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR FLEW INTO CLASS C AIRSPACE WITHOUT CONTACTING THE CTLING AGENCY.

Narrative: AFTER A BUSINESS FLT FROM HOU, I DROPPED OFF MY PAX AT 3R3. DURING CLBOUT AND ENRTE TO THE BAR-K ARPT, I LOST MY PANEL LIGHTS. (I WAS TRANSITIONING UNDER THE OUTER CLASS C VEIL. THE CEILING OF WHICH WAS 2400 FT MSL). BY THE TIME I GOT MY FLASHLIGHT OUT, I HAD CLBED THROUGH MY INTENDED CRUISE ALT OF 2300 FT, ATC SAID I HAD CLBED TO 2600 FT. I HAD CONTACTED ATC FOR SOME ASSISTANCE (VECTORS) TO BARK. THIS WHOLE EPISODE WAS UNINTENTIONAL. MY MISTAKE WAS NOT CONTACTING APCH WHEN I DEPARTED 3R3. MY NORMAL DAYTIME ROUTINE IS TO NOT BOTHER ATC FOR THIS SHORT OF A FLT NOT DESTINED TO A CTLED FIELD. THE FACT THAT THIS HAPPENED AT NIGHT WAS A BIG FACTOR. I JUST COULD NOT SEE MY PANEL FOR THE SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME IT TOOK TO GET MY FLASHLIGHT. IF I HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH ATC, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO INCURSION.

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.