Single pilot descended into class D airspace without contacting tower.

Attributes
ACN	492130
Time
Date	200011
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : myf.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 1800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sct.tracon tower : myf.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : myf.tower
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 875 flight time type : 875
ASRS Report	492130
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : separated traffic none taken : anomaly accepted none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 1500 vertical : 300
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was flying from ral to myf for the third time. My previous flts had been as IFR flts under IMC. This was my first VFR flight to myf. I obtained radar service from socal approach and was cleared into class B airspace at 5500 ft. As I approached miramar field north of myf, I was cleared to 3500 ft and then told to maintain above 3200 ft until clear of miramar airspace, contact montgomery field. At this point I was about 4 mi north of myf and jut clearing miramar airspace. After clearing miramar airspace, I descended to 2000 ft before I was able to reach montgomery tower. By this time I was about 3 mi north of myf. I leveled off at 1800 ft (500 ft above pattern altitude) and the tower instructed me to climb to 2000 ft to avoid an aircraft on right downwind for runway 28R. I did so and was instructed to pass over the airport and enter the left downwind for runway 28L and landed uneventfully. The tower asked why I had not contacted him earlier. I responded that I contacted him as soon as I could after being reclred from socal. I believe that I should not have descended below 2900 ft (the top of myf airspace) until I had established contact with myf tower.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SINGLE PLT DSNDED INTO CLASS D AIRSPACE WITHOUT CONTACTING TWR.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING FROM RAL TO MYF FOR THE THIRD TIME. MY PREVIOUS FLTS HAD BEEN AS IFR FLTS UNDER IMC. THIS WAS MY FIRST VFR FLT TO MYF. I OBTAINED RADAR SVC FROM SOCAL APCH AND WAS CLRED INTO CLASS B AIRSPACE AT 5500 FT. AS I APCHED MIRAMAR FIELD N OF MYF, I WAS CLRED TO 3500 FT AND THEN TOLD TO MAINTAIN ABOVE 3200 FT UNTIL CLR OF MIRAMAR AIRSPACE, CONTACT MONTGOMERY FIELD. AT THIS POINT I WAS ABOUT 4 MI N OF MYF AND JUT CLRING MIRAMAR AIRSPACE. AFTER CLRING MIRAMAR AIRSPACE, I DSNDED TO 2000 FT BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO REACH MONTGOMERY TWR. BY THIS TIME I WAS ABOUT 3 MI N OF MYF. I LEVELED OFF AT 1800 FT (500 FT ABOVE PATTERN ALT) AND THE TWR INSTRUCTED ME TO CLB TO 2000 FT TO AVOID AN ACFT ON R DOWNWIND FOR RWY 28R. I DID SO AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO PASS OVER THE ARPT AND ENTER THE L DOWNWIND FOR RWY 28L AND LANDED UNEVENTFULLY. THE TWR ASKED WHY I HAD NOT CONTACTED HIM EARLIER. I RESPONDED THAT I CONTACTED HIM AS SOON AS I COULD AFTER BEING RECLRED FROM SOCAL. I BELIEVE THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE DSNDED BELOW 2900 FT (THE TOP OF MYF AIRSPACE) UNTIL I HAD ESTABLISHED CONTACT WITH MYF TWR.

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.