A C152 private pilot enters the class D of smo while on a pleasure night operation.

Attributes
ACN	423200
Time
Date	199812
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : smo airport : vny
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna 152
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 2 flight time total : 100 flight time type : 97
ASRS Report	423200
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 5000 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I departed vny for a VFR night flight to smo. At 7 mi north of smo, I deviated course to the east to circle 1 mi north of century city. I was monitoring smo tower but I did not establish 2-WAY radio contact. After circling for 1 min, I heard the tower warn an aircraft on long final for runway 21 of an aircraft maneuvering north of century city. The aircraft's reply was that he had the other aircraft on his TCASII. I immediately contacted smo tower with my intentions. According to the tower, I entered class D airspace. I think the main contributing factors were: 1) I did not establish radio contact with the tower before circling, and 2) because it was dark, I misjudged the distance from century city. Also, somehow, I think there should be a program to show new pilots actual distances so there won't be so much guesswork while in the air.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C152 PVT PLT ENTERS THE CLASS D OF SMO WHILE ON A PLEASURE NIGHT OP.

Narrative: I DEPARTED VNY FOR A VFR NIGHT FLT TO SMO. AT 7 MI N OF SMO, I DEVIATED COURSE TO THE E TO CIRCLE 1 MI N OF CENTURY CITY. I WAS MONITORING SMO TWR BUT I DID NOT ESTABLISH 2-WAY RADIO CONTACT. AFTER CIRCLING FOR 1 MIN, I HEARD THE TWR WARN AN ACFT ON LONG FINAL FOR RWY 21 OF AN ACFT MANEUVERING N OF CENTURY CITY. THE ACFT'S REPLY WAS THAT HE HAD THE OTHER ACFT ON HIS TCASII. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED SMO TWR WITH MY INTENTIONS. ACCORDING TO THE TWR, I ENTERED CLASS D AIRSPACE. I THINK THE MAIN CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: 1) I DID NOT ESTABLISH RADIO CONTACT WITH THE TWR BEFORE CIRCLING, AND 2) BECAUSE IT WAS DARK, I MISJUDGED THE DISTANCE FROM CENTURY CITY. ALSO, SOMEHOW, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A PROGRAM TO SHOW NEW PLTS ACTUAL DISTANCES SO THERE WON'T BE SO MUCH GUESSWORK WHILE IN THE AIR.

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.