A GA C152 pilot enters class D airspace before calling the ATCT local controller.

Attributes
ACN	342990
Time
Date	199608
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pao
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1300 msl bound upper : 1300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : pao
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 18 flight time total : 107 flight time type : 25
ASRS Report	342990
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Local day VFR flight from lvk-pao. Received flight following and squawk code from bay approach 135.4 over sunol golf course at approximately 3500 ft MSL. Bay approach controller said 'cessna call sign, squawk XXXX and identify.' I complied and he said 'cessna call sign, radar contact, squawk VFR when you have airport in sight (pao), good day.' I acknowledged and descended to 1300 ft MSL over dumbarton bridge toll plaza to remain clear sfo class B and sjc class C. I continued out over the sfo bay along 222 degrees to osi VOR inbound to pao. I expected to be handed off, but when I was about 3 mi out (inside pao class D) no one called me. I squawked VFR and called pao tower. They gave me landing instructions and informed me I had entered class D airspace before establishing 2 way radio communication. I landed without incident and taxied to transient. They didn't tell me to contact tower after landing. However, I tried to call the tower the next day, but only was able to leave a voice message. No return call. As I look back on the situation I think the controller wanted me to call pao before entering the class D. However, at the time there was a low level haze (1000 ft or so) and while the visibility was over 5 mi I didn't spot the field until inside the class D (first time to pao). This could have been avoided if the controller instructed me to specifically remain clear pao class D until establishing 2 way communication.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A GA C152 PLT ENTERS CLASS D AIRSPACE BEFORE CALLING THE ATCT LCL CTLR.

Narrative: LCL DAY VFR FLT FROM LVK-PAO. RECEIVED FLT FOLLOWING AND SQUAWK CODE FROM BAY APCH 135.4 OVER SUNOL GOLF COURSE AT APPROX 3500 FT MSL. BAY APCH CTLR SAID 'CESSNA CALL SIGN, SQUAWK XXXX AND IDENT.' I COMPLIED AND HE SAID 'CESSNA CALL SIGN, RADAR CONTACT, SQUAWK VFR WHEN YOU HAVE ARPT IN SIGHT (PAO), GOOD DAY.' I ACKNOWLEDGED AND DSNDED TO 1300 FT MSL OVER DUMBARTON BRIDGE TOLL PLAZA TO REMAIN CLR SFO CLASS B AND SJC CLASS C. I CONTINUED OUT OVER THE SFO BAY ALONG 222 DEGS TO OSI VOR INBOUND TO PAO. I EXPECTED TO BE HANDED OFF, BUT WHEN I WAS ABOUT 3 MI OUT (INSIDE PAO CLASS D) NO ONE CALLED ME. I SQUAWKED VFR AND CALLED PAO TWR. THEY GAVE ME LNDG INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMED ME I HAD ENTERED CLASS D AIRSPACE BEFORE ESTABLISHING 2 WAY RADIO COM. I LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT AND TAXIED TO TRANSIENT. THEY DIDN'T TELL ME TO CONTACT TWR AFTER LNDG. HOWEVER, I TRIED TO CALL THE TWR THE NEXT DAY, BUT ONLY WAS ABLE TO LEAVE A VOICE MESSAGE. NO RETURN CALL. AS I LOOK BACK ON THE SIT I THINK THE CTLR WANTED ME TO CALL PAO BEFORE ENTERING THE CLASS D. HOWEVER, AT THE TIME THERE WAS A LOW LEVEL HAZE (1000 FT OR SO) AND WHILE THE VISIBILITY WAS OVER 5 MI I DIDN'T SPOT THE FIELD UNTIL INSIDE THE CLASS D (FIRST TIME TO PAO). THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THE CTLR INSTRUCTED ME TO SPECIFICALLY REMAIN CLR PAO CLASS D UNTIL ESTABLISHING 2 WAY COM.

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.