C172 enters class D airspace without clearance while avoiding class C airspace near vny.

Attributes
ACN	450920
Time
Date	199910
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : vny.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sct.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival : on vectors arrival : vfr
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 14 flight time total : 751 flight time type : 578
ASRS Report	450920
Person 2
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : 952
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : provided flight assist
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was plting our C172 with my wife as passenger from poc toward lgb, around the pv peninsula, over lax via the sfra at 4500 ft MSL. I had intended to climb to 5500 ft MSL after outside the lax class B airspace. Instead, I asked my wife if she'd like to stop at whp if they had 80 octane fuel. Called whp tower while west of bur class C airspace over woodland hills. Tower affirmed 80 octane available. Told whp tower I'd call later for landing. Skirted bur class C airspace while descending. When below the 3000 ft MSL floor of class C airspace, followed 118 freeway east. I did not notice the northern edge of the vny class D airspace on my los angeles TCA chart. Just about at the intersection of the 118 freeway and vny class D boundary (vny 320 degree radial), I called whp tower for landing. The tower operator instructed me to continue following the 118 freeway. I did. When taxiing for takeoff, whp ground asked if whp tower had talked to me about vny incursion. Negative. Ground then told me vny had told whp I was in vny airspace. If I decide again to deviate from my original intended flight, I will circle and study chart for obstacles.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 ENTERS CLASS D AIRSPACE WITHOUT CLRNC WHILE AVOIDING CLASS C AIRSPACE NEAR VNY.

Narrative: I WAS PLTING OUR C172 WITH MY WIFE AS PAX FROM POC TOWARD LGB, AROUND THE PV PENINSULA, OVER LAX VIA THE SFRA AT 4500 FT MSL. I HAD INTENDED TO CLB TO 5500 FT MSL AFTER OUTSIDE THE LAX CLASS B AIRSPACE. INSTEAD, I ASKED MY WIFE IF SHE'D LIKE TO STOP AT WHP IF THEY HAD 80 OCTANE FUEL. CALLED WHP TWR WHILE W OF BUR CLASS C AIRSPACE OVER WOODLAND HILLS. TWR AFFIRMED 80 OCTANE AVAILABLE. TOLD WHP TWR I'D CALL LATER FOR LNDG. SKIRTED BUR CLASS C AIRSPACE WHILE DSNDING. WHEN BELOW THE 3000 FT MSL FLOOR OF CLASS C AIRSPACE, FOLLOWED 118 FREEWAY E. I DID NOT NOTICE THE NORTHERN EDGE OF THE VNY CLASS D AIRSPACE ON MY LOS ANGELES TCA CHART. JUST ABOUT AT THE INTXN OF THE 118 FREEWAY AND VNY CLASS D BOUNDARY (VNY 320 DEG RADIAL), I CALLED WHP TWR FOR LNDG. THE TWR OPERATOR INSTRUCTED ME TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING THE 118 FREEWAY. I DID. WHEN TAXIING FOR TKOF, WHP GND ASKED IF WHP TWR HAD TALKED TO ME ABOUT VNY INCURSION. NEGATIVE. GND THEN TOLD ME VNY HAD TOLD WHP I WAS IN VNY AIRSPACE. IF I DECIDE AGAIN TO DEVIATE FROM MY ORIGINAL INTENDED FLT, I WILL CIRCLE AND STUDY CHART FOR OBSTACLES.

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.