In-flight WX. Entered controled airspace without radio contact.

Attributes
ACN	305640
Time
Date	199505
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : see
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1800 msl bound upper : 1800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : see
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 700 flight time type : 20
ASRS Report	305640
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I listened to ATIS at myf. It was VFR. I departed VFR asking for a departure to see. When I was clear of myf airspace nearing cowls mountain, I asked for a frequency change, which I was granted. I dialed in ATIS but was unable to pick it up which is often the case west of cowls mountain. By this time I was at the edge of see's class D airspace. Since I was unable to get ATIS I switched to tower frequency 120.7 and attempted to call them. I received no answer. I switched radios and even tried on my manufacturer X hand-held. Still I received no answer. By this time I was on the east side of cowls mountain and could see the airport. I started circling about 2 mi south thinking I had a communications failure and waiting for a light signal. I then noticed the rotating beacon was on meaning the airport was IFR. The airport appeared VFR although to the north of the airport it looked like lower ceilings. I then left and returned to myf always in VFR. My radios worked fine when I called up myf to return.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INFLT WX. ENTERED CTLED AIRSPACE WITHOUT RADIO CONTACT.

Narrative: I LISTENED TO ATIS AT MYF. IT WAS VFR. I DEPARTED VFR ASKING FOR A DEP TO SEE. WHEN I WAS CLR OF MYF AIRSPACE NEARING COWLS MOUNTAIN, I ASKED FOR A FREQ CHANGE, WHICH I WAS GRANTED. I DIALED IN ATIS BUT WAS UNABLE TO PICK IT UP WHICH IS OFTEN THE CASE W OF COWLS MOUNTAIN. BY THIS TIME I WAS AT THE EDGE OF SEE'S CLASS D AIRSPACE. SINCE I WAS UNABLE TO GET ATIS I SWITCHED TO TWR FREQ 120.7 AND ATTEMPTED TO CALL THEM. I RECEIVED NO ANSWER. I SWITCHED RADIOS AND EVEN TRIED ON MY MANUFACTURER X HAND-HELD. STILL I RECEIVED NO ANSWER. BY THIS TIME I WAS ON THE E SIDE OF COWLS MOUNTAIN AND COULD SEE THE ARPT. I STARTED CIRCLING ABOUT 2 MI S THINKING I HAD A COMS FAILURE AND WAITING FOR A LIGHT SIGNAL. I THEN NOTICED THE ROTATING BEACON WAS ON MEANING THE ARPT WAS IFR. THE ARPT APPEARED VFR ALTHOUGH TO THE N OF THE ARPT IT LOOKED LIKE LOWER CEILINGS. I THEN LEFT AND RETURNED TO MYF ALWAYS IN VFR. MY RADIOS WORKED FINE WHEN I CALLED UP MYF TO RETURN.

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.