Narrative:

I was en route VFR from vny to riverside. After transitioning el monte class D, I was proceeding southeast for pomona freeway eastbound for a transition of ont to ral. As best as I can determine, I accidentally followed the 210 northbound then east on the 10 into bracket class D. When I called ont I was informed that I was northwest of field instead of southwest which I expected. The pomona freeway travels northeast through rolling hills. I missed the easterly turnoff. Ont tower asked me to call bracket tower once I was at riverside and provided me with number. Once I had completed local ground responsibilities, I called brackett tower. Contributing factor: WX conditions were marginal from 2-6 mi visibility, depending on ATIS facility and 400-600-1000 ft AGL ceiling. Poor visibility could have contributed to confusion in navigation. Pilot: I have flown route several times with students primarily cross country requirements. I have 1000+ hours, no accidents to date. The flight was early in morning so fatigue could have been a factor. We were hurrying to arrive by XA00, so this might also have contributed (we had 20 mins to complete 10 mins of flight). Geographical confusion: this is a very confusing area for navigation. Freeways run parallel. Ground may obstruct view of interchanges. Flat areas have few distinguishing features. Recommendations: I believe stress may have contributed. I will rest more prior to flight and allow more time, especially in questionable WX, or not fly flight due to WX. Also since tower operator indicated this confusion is a common occurrence, restrict brackets airspace to the south to the 10 freeway. Possibly modify VOR/GPS-a approach accordingly.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A ROBINSON 44 PLT ENTERS THE CLASS D AIRSPACE OF POC ARPT WHEN HE FOLLOWS THE WRONG FREEWAY IN SEARCH OF RIVERSIDE.

Narrative: I WAS ENRTE VFR FROM VNY TO RIVERSIDE. AFTER TRANSITIONING EL MONTE CLASS D, I WAS PROCEEDING SE FOR POMONA FREEWAY EBOUND FOR A TRANSITION OF ONT TO RAL. AS BEST AS I CAN DETERMINE, I ACCIDENTALLY FOLLOWED THE 210 NBOUND THEN E ON THE 10 INTO BRACKET CLASS D. WHEN I CALLED ONT I WAS INFORMED THAT I WAS NW OF FIELD INSTEAD OF SW WHICH I EXPECTED. THE POMONA FREEWAY TRAVELS NE THROUGH ROLLING HILLS. I MISSED THE EASTERLY TURNOFF. ONT TWR ASKED ME TO CALL BRACKET TWR ONCE I WAS AT RIVERSIDE AND PROVIDED ME WITH NUMBER. ONCE I HAD COMPLETED LCL GND RESPONSIBILITIES, I CALLED BRACKETT TWR. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR: WX CONDITIONS WERE MARGINAL FROM 2-6 MI VISIBILITY, DEPENDING ON ATIS FACILITY AND 400-600-1000 FT AGL CEILING. POOR VISIBILITY COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO CONFUSION IN NAV. PLT: I HAVE FLOWN RTE SEVERAL TIMES WITH STUDENTS PRIMARILY XCOUNTRY REQUIREMENTS. I HAVE 1000+ HRS, NO ACCIDENTS TO DATE. THE FLT WAS EARLY IN MORNING SO FATIGUE COULD HAVE BEEN A FACTOR. WE WERE HURRYING TO ARRIVE BY XA00, SO THIS MIGHT ALSO HAVE CONTRIBUTED (WE HAD 20 MINS TO COMPLETE 10 MINS OF FLT). GEOGRAPHICAL CONFUSION: THIS IS A VERY CONFUSING AREA FOR NAV. FREEWAYS RUN PARALLEL. GND MAY OBSTRUCT VIEW OF INTERCHANGES. FLAT AREAS HAVE FEW DISTINGUISHING FEATURES. RECOMMENDATIONS: I BELIEVE STRESS MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED. I WILL REST MORE PRIOR TO FLT AND ALLOW MORE TIME, ESPECIALLY IN QUESTIONABLE WX, OR NOT FLY FLT DUE TO WX. ALSO SINCE TWR OPERATOR INDICATED THIS CONFUSION IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE, RESTRICT BRACKETS AIRSPACE TO THE S TO THE 10 FREEWAY. POSSIBLY MODIFY VOR/GPS-A APCH ACCORDINGLY.

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.