C172 pilot during VFR flight; enters class C airspace of nuw along with a national security area.

Attributes
ACN	704269
Time
Date	200607
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : nuw.airport
State Reference	WA
Altitude	msl single value : 1700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : s46.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 850 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	704269
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Chart Or Publication
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While circumnaving (VFR) the class C of whidbly island NAS; just outside the center circle; but below the outer tier; I felt I was clear (below)the class C (other sections of the tier have a floor of 2000 ft MSL) but the section I was under has a floor of 1300 ft MSL. I was at approximately 1700 ft MSL. A busy; congested tac (seattle) left me somewhat rattled; so I overlooked the proper floor marking for my area of the outer tier. I had just passed next to a prohibited zone and another area where 'pilots are requested to avoid' which I had trouble discerning the boundaries of (to the south). Restr area should be of red hue! If it's important to avoid 'em -- let's see them plainly on the chart. (I had a current chart; and I normally highlight 'right' and 'P' areas -- but had missed it).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PLT DURING VFR FLT; ENTERS CLASS C AIRSPACE OF NUW ALONG WITH A NATIONAL SECURITY AREA.

Narrative: WHILE CIRCUMNAVING (VFR) THE CLASS C OF WHIDBLY ISLAND NAS; JUST OUTSIDE THE CTR CIRCLE; BUT BELOW THE OUTER TIER; I FELT I WAS CLR (BELOW)THE CLASS C (OTHER SECTIONS OF THE TIER HAVE A FLOOR OF 2000 FT MSL) BUT THE SECTION I WAS UNDER HAS A FLOOR OF 1300 FT MSL. I WAS AT APPROX 1700 FT MSL. A BUSY; CONGESTED TAC (SEATTLE) LEFT ME SOMEWHAT RATTLED; SO I OVERLOOKED THE PROPER FLOOR MARKING FOR MY AREA OF THE OUTER TIER. I HAD JUST PASSED NEXT TO A PROHIBITED ZONE AND ANOTHER AREA WHERE 'PLTS ARE REQUESTED TO AVOID' WHICH I HAD TROUBLE DISCERNING THE BOUNDARIES OF (TO THE S). RESTR AREA SHOULD BE OF RED HUE! IF IT'S IMPORTANT TO AVOID 'EM -- LET'S SEE THEM PLAINLY ON THE CHART. (I HAD A CURRENT CHART; AND I NORMALLY HIGHLIGHT 'R' AND 'P' AREAS -- BUT HAD MISSED IT).

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.