Narrative:

I was practicing a VFR diversion on a solo training flight in preparation for check ride. I was diverting to linden/prices field (9g2) under outer class C ring of flint, mi. The floor of the shelf was 2100 ft MSL. I was afraid I might accidentally penetrate the shelf on my descent to 9g2. Unfortunately, on calling up flint, I did not make my intentions clear. I said 'flint approach, aircraft X 6 mi west of linden/prices inbound, landing runway 27.' the runways at linden are runway 9/27, but also at flint. The controller assigned me a squawk and cleared me to land on runway 27. I replied 'cleared to land runway 27, linden/prices.' the controller was startled because he assumed I was heading for flint airport. Indeed there was no reason why he shouldn't have thought that. I should've said 'landing linden prices.' I hadn't planned what I was to say because of the diversion practice required me to stay somewhat unfamiliar with my diversion airport. Anyway, he terminated radar service and assigned squawk 1200. After touch-and-go linden, I decided to avoid further contact with flint by staying at 2000 ft MSL (below class C). I kept on a heading of 270 degrees for what I thought was 4-5 mi. That would've put me clear of class C airspace at flint. My next stop was owosso, mi, and I turned to about 310 degrees to get there. Soon thereafter, I saw a town with crossing railroads so I had visual certainty of where I was. I was alarmed to find out I was inside class C outer shelf at 3000 ft MSL about 1-2 mi. I have decided I am in need of remedial training in radio communications around class C especially when my route is just outside the airspace. I plan to discuss this event with my instructor and learn phraseology to better communicate my intent and to protect myself from inadvertent penetration of class C airspace.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA28 PVT PLT CREATES AN INCURSION OF CLASS C AIRSPACE NEAR FLINT, MI.

Narrative: I WAS PRACTICING A VFR DIVERSION ON A SOLO TRAINING FLT IN PREPARATION FOR CHK RIDE. I WAS DIVERTING TO LINDEN/PRICES FIELD (9G2) UNDER OUTER CLASS C RING OF FLINT, MI. THE FLOOR OF THE SHELF WAS 2100 FT MSL. I WAS AFRAID I MIGHT ACCIDENTALLY PENETRATE THE SHELF ON MY DSCNT TO 9G2. UNFORTUNATELY, ON CALLING UP FLINT, I DID NOT MAKE MY INTENTIONS CLR. I SAID 'FLINT APCH, ACFT X 6 MI W OF LINDEN/PRICES INBOUND, LNDG RWY 27.' THE RWYS AT LINDEN ARE RWY 9/27, BUT ALSO AT FLINT. THE CTLR ASSIGNED ME A SQUAWK AND CLRED ME TO LAND ON RWY 27. I REPLIED 'CLRED TO LAND RWY 27, LINDEN/PRICES.' THE CTLR WAS STARTLED BECAUSE HE ASSUMED I WAS HEADING FOR FLINT ARPT. INDEED THERE WAS NO REASON WHY HE SHOULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT THAT. I SHOULD'VE SAID 'LNDG LINDEN PRICES.' I HADN'T PLANNED WHAT I WAS TO SAY BECAUSE OF THE DIVERSION PRACTICE REQUIRED ME TO STAY SOMEWHAT UNFAMILIAR WITH MY DIVERSION ARPT. ANYWAY, HE TERMINATED RADAR SVC AND ASSIGNED SQUAWK 1200. AFTER TOUCH-AND-GO LINDEN, I DECIDED TO AVOID FURTHER CONTACT WITH FLINT BY STAYING AT 2000 FT MSL (BELOW CLASS C). I KEPT ON A HDG OF 270 DEGS FOR WHAT I THOUGHT WAS 4-5 MI. THAT WOULD'VE PUT ME CLR OF CLASS C AIRSPACE AT FLINT. MY NEXT STOP WAS OWOSSO, MI, AND I TURNED TO ABOUT 310 DEGS TO GET THERE. SOON THEREAFTER, I SAW A TOWN WITH XING RAILROADS SO I HAD VISUAL CERTAINTY OF WHERE I WAS. I WAS ALARMED TO FIND OUT I WAS INSIDE CLASS C OUTER SHELF AT 3000 FT MSL ABOUT 1-2 MI. I HAVE DECIDED I AM IN NEED OF REMEDIAL TRAINING IN RADIO COMS AROUND CLASS C ESPECIALLY WHEN MY RTE IS JUST OUTSIDE THE AIRSPACE. I PLAN TO DISCUSS THIS EVENT WITH MY INSTRUCTOR AND LEARN PHRASEOLOGY TO BETTER COMMUNICATE MY INTENT AND TO PROTECT MYSELF FROM INADVERTENT PENETRATION OF CLASS C AIRSPACE.

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.