C177 enters sjc class C airspace without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	428188
Time
Date	199902
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sjc.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 5500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cardinal 177/177RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	428188
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	observation : passenger
Qualification	pilot : student
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Overflying class C airspace at sjc, sebound at 5500 ft MSL. Inner sector ceiling is 4000 ft MSL, outer sector to south ceiling is 6000 ft MSL. Passenger (a student pilot) misread sectional chart, we were not over inner sector, but over outer sector where I should have been above 6000 ft MSL. No conflicts or contact made with ATC. Exited class C airspace within 10 mins at 5500 ft MSL. PIC should not entrust navigation in complex airspace to passenger unless they are rated pilots. Better use of navigation equipment and diligence by PIC was needed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C177 ENTERS SJC CLASS C AIRSPACE WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: OVERFLYING CLASS C AIRSPACE AT SJC, SEBOUND AT 5500 FT MSL. INNER SECTOR CEILING IS 4000 FT MSL, OUTER SECTOR TO S CEILING IS 6000 FT MSL. PAX (A STUDENT PLT) MISREAD SECTIONAL CHART, WE WERE NOT OVER INNER SECTOR, BUT OVER OUTER SECTOR WHERE I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABOVE 6000 FT MSL. NO CONFLICTS OR CONTACT MADE WITH ATC. EXITED CLASS C AIRSPACE WITHIN 10 MINS AT 5500 FT MSL. PIC SHOULD NOT ENTRUST NAV IN COMPLEX AIRSPACE TO PAX UNLESS THEY ARE RATED PLTS. BETTER USE OF NAV EQUIP AND DILIGENCE BY PIC WAS NEEDED.

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.