Erroneous penetration of class C airspace. In-flight WX encounter.

Attributes
ACN	312150
Time
Date	199508
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : nuw
State Reference	WA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : nuw
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 17 flight time total : 4842 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	312150
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

A leg of my VFR flight was blakely island airstrip (S08) to skagit-bay view airport (75S). This route will keep you north and clear of whidbey island class C airspace. I was flying about 2500 ft and in mixed WX. In order to maintain VFR, I had to deviate south into the class C airspace. I attempted to contact whidbey approach several times but with no luck. I could hear approach loud and clear but they did not return any of my calls. Due to the WX at the time, I elected to fly into class C airspace and maintain VFR rather than fly into IFR WX. Since I was not in radio contact with approach, I placed my transponder on code 7600 for lost communications failure and listened for them to call me. I heard whidbey working other aircraft in my area but there was no call for me. As soon as I was around the WX, I headed north to clear the airspace. When I was clear of the class C airspace, I went back to 1200 on my transponder and continued on my flight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ERRONEOUS PENETRATION OF CLASS C AIRSPACE. INFLT WX ENCOUNTER.

Narrative: A LEG OF MY VFR FLT WAS BLAKELY ISLAND AIRSTRIP (S08) TO SKAGIT-BAY VIEW ARPT (75S). THIS RTE WILL KEEP YOU N AND CLR OF WHIDBEY ISLAND CLASS C AIRSPACE. I WAS FLYING ABOUT 2500 FT AND IN MIXED WX. IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN VFR, I HAD TO DEVIATE S INTO THE CLASS C AIRSPACE. I ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT WHIDBEY APCH SEVERAL TIMES BUT WITH NO LUCK. I COULD HEAR APCH LOUD AND CLR BUT THEY DID NOT RETURN ANY OF MY CALLS. DUE TO THE WX AT THE TIME, I ELECTED TO FLY INTO CLASS C AIRSPACE AND MAINTAIN VFR RATHER THAN FLY INTO IFR WX. SINCE I WAS NOT IN RADIO CONTACT WITH APCH, I PLACED MY XPONDER ON CODE 7600 FOR LOST COMS FAILURE AND LISTENED FOR THEM TO CALL ME. I HEARD WHIDBEY WORKING OTHER ACFT IN MY AREA BUT THERE WAS NO CALL FOR ME. AS SOON AS I WAS AROUND THE WX, I HEADED N TO CLR THE AIRSPACE. WHEN I WAS CLR OF THE CLASS C AIRSPACE, I WENT BACK TO 1200 ON MY XPONDER AND CONTINUED ON MY FLT.

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.