PA28 pilot inadvertently enters abe class C airspace without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	417460
Time
Date	199810
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : abe airport : rdg
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : abe
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 150 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	417460
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera 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 was flying at 3500 ft, assuming I would go higher once I got closer to allentown class C airspace. All this time I was in contact with flight watch. Due to miscalculations of a tailwind, I arrived too soon, and ended up in the class C airspace and was told to 'stay clear,' at which time I immediately climbed to 5500 ft to overfly the airspace going on an easterly heading back to msv, my home base. I understand I must be more vigilant and will prevent this from happening again. Just receiving my license 4 days previously, and taking my wife with me for the first time, I guess I was excited about my new privilege. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter states that he departed rdg and did not calculate how quickly he would be approaching abe class C airspace.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 PLT INADVERTENTLY ENTERS ABE CLASS C AIRSPACE WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING AT 3500 FT, ASSUMING I WOULD GO HIGHER ONCE I GOT CLOSER TO ALLENTOWN CLASS C AIRSPACE. ALL THIS TIME I WAS IN CONTACT WITH FLT WATCH. DUE TO MISCALCULATIONS OF A TAILWIND, I ARRIVED TOO SOON, AND ENDED UP IN THE CLASS C AIRSPACE AND WAS TOLD TO 'STAY CLR,' AT WHICH TIME I IMMEDIATELY CLBED TO 5500 FT TO OVERFLY THE AIRSPACE GOING ON AN EASTERLY HDG BACK TO MSV, MY HOME BASE. I UNDERSTAND I MUST BE MORE VIGILANT AND WILL PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. JUST RECEIVING MY LICENSE 4 DAYS PREVIOUSLY, AND TAKING MY WIFE WITH ME FOR THE FIRST TIME, I GUESS I WAS EXCITED ABOUT MY NEW PRIVILEGE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES THAT HE DEPARTED RDG AND DID NOT CALCULATE HOW QUICKLY HE WOULD BE APCHING ABE 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.