Small aircraft possible unauthorized entry into class C airspace.

Attributes
ACN	297790
Time
Date	199503
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : rno
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7500 msl bound upper : 7500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : rno
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	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 11 flight time total : 20000
ASRS Report	297790
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was descending for landing at reno cannon international airport coming in from the southwest. I called reno approach control when approximately 5 mi south of verdi, nevada. I reported the ATIS and advised approach control I was VFR and landing reno. I recall a transponder code was assigned and the code was selected. Some XX20 seconds(?) later I called again for further instruction, no reply. 10 or so seconds later I called again. No reply. Short time later called again. This time approach came back and advised I was violating or about to violate their class C airspace because I hadn't been cleared into it. He never gave me a reason for not acknowledging my calls. At that time I requested a heading to fly and continued the approach to landing without further incident. I was asked by ground control to call approach on the phone which I did. I was advised of the requirements for entering class C airspace and I acknowledged. 1 of the problems with the particular area is you can't always get the ATIS and contact approach when at a low altitude until you come around the mountain in the vicinity of verdi intersection and by then you are either on the edge of or into the class C airspace.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA POSSIBLE UNAUTH ENTRY INTO CLASS C AIRSPACE.

Narrative: I WAS DSNDING FOR LNDG AT RENO CANNON INTL ARPT COMING IN FROM THE SW. I CALLED RENO APCH CTL WHEN APPROX 5 MI S OF VERDI, NEVADA. I RPTED THE ATIS AND ADVISED APCH CTL I WAS VFR AND LNDG RENO. I RECALL A XPONDER CODE WAS ASSIGNED AND THE CODE WAS SELECTED. SOME XX20 SECONDS(?) LATER I CALLED AGAIN FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTION, NO REPLY. 10 OR SO SECONDS LATER I CALLED AGAIN. NO REPLY. SHORT TIME LATER CALLED AGAIN. THIS TIME APCH CAME BACK AND ADVISED I WAS VIOLATING OR ABOUT TO VIOLATE THEIR CLASS C AIRSPACE BECAUSE I HADN'T BEEN CLRED INTO IT. HE NEVER GAVE ME A REASON FOR NOT ACKNOWLEDGING MY CALLS. AT THAT TIME I REQUESTED A HDG TO FLY AND CONTINUED THE APCH TO LNDG WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. I WAS ASKED BY GND CTL TO CALL APCH ON THE PHONE WHICH I DID. I WAS ADVISED OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTERING CLASS C AIRSPACE AND I ACKNOWLEDGED. 1 OF THE PROBS WITH THE PARTICULAR AREA IS YOU CAN'T ALWAYS GET THE ATIS AND CONTACT APCH WHEN AT A LOW ALT UNTIL YOU COME AROUND THE MOUNTAIN IN THE VICINITY OF VERDI INTXN AND BY THEN YOU ARE EITHER ON THE EDGE OF OR INTO THE CLASS C AIRSPACE.

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.