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Pilot instructor, with a trainee flying a C172, entered class C airspace without first making contact with the tower. When reporting to the tower, he was told to remain clear of class C airspace, of which the reporter did not understand since he was already in the airspace.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 421687 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199812 |
| Day | Sun |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : nuq airport : sjc |
| State Reference | CA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | general aviation : instructional |
| Make Model Name | Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise other |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot instruction : instructor |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : cfi |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 4000 |
| ASRS Report | 421687 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot instruction : trainee |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : clearance other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : unable none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew |
| Supplementary | |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
Approaching sjc from the west after being cleared through class B airspace, I was over moffett field at 2000 ft when instructed to contact sjc tower. I did so, but was told to 'remain clear of class C airspace.' I was already in class C airspace and thought sjc tower had me confused with another aircraft. Consequently, I communicated again several times with sjc tower but got no response except once again being told to remain clear. After landing, I was instructed to contact the tower, whose spokes person politely informed me that a 'situation' was in progress and that my continued attempts to clarify sjc tower's instruction to remain clear was uncooperative. I responded that I had already entered so I could not remain clear. Had the tower given me a heading (or vector) to fly, I would have done so to exit class C airspace. Perhaps we need more concise communication between ATC and pilot to distinguish 'remain clear' from exit airspace.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PLT INSTRUCTOR, WITH A TRAINEE FLYING A C172, ENTERED CLASS C AIRSPACE WITHOUT FIRST MAKING CONTACT WITH THE TWR. WHEN RPTING TO THE TWR, HE WAS TOLD TO REMAIN CLR OF CLASS C AIRSPACE, OF WHICH THE RPTR DID NOT UNDERSTAND SINCE HE WAS ALREADY IN THE AIRSPACE.
Narrative: APCHING SJC FROM THE W AFTER BEING CLRED THROUGH CLASS B AIRSPACE, I WAS OVER MOFFETT FIELD AT 2000 FT WHEN INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT SJC TWR. I DID SO, BUT WAS TOLD TO 'REMAIN CLR OF CLASS C AIRSPACE.' I WAS ALREADY IN CLASS C AIRSPACE AND THOUGHT SJC TWR HAD ME CONFUSED WITH ANOTHER ACFT. CONSEQUENTLY, I COMMUNICATED AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES WITH SJC TWR BUT GOT NO RESPONSE EXCEPT ONCE AGAIN BEING TOLD TO REMAIN CLR. AFTER LNDG, I WAS INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT THE TWR, WHOSE SPOKES PERSON POLITELY INFORMED ME THAT A 'SIT' WAS IN PROGRESS AND THAT MY CONTINUED ATTEMPTS TO CLARIFY SJC TWR'S INSTRUCTION TO REMAIN CLR WAS UNCOOPERATIVE. I RESPONDED THAT I HAD ALREADY ENTERED SO I COULD NOT REMAIN CLR. HAD THE TWR GIVEN ME A HDG (OR VECTOR) TO FLY, I WOULD HAVE DONE SO TO EXIT CLASS C AIRSPACE. PERHAPS WE NEED MORE CONCISE COM BTWN ATC AND PLT TO DISTINGUISH 'REMAIN CLR' FROM EXIT 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.