Pilot penetrated TCA.

Attributes
ACN	88246
Time
Date	198805
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : poa
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 4300
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oak tower : pao
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 5 flight time total : 153 flight time type : 153
ASRS Report	88246
Person 2
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After climbing through a large hole in an otherwise overcast (2000') bay area on a left standard departure from pao, I headed towards moffett, where the tops were about 3000'. Pao tower advised that if I kept my present heading, I would be in moffett airspace. I told them that I was already at 3500' and climbing. At this point, the tower asked for a PIREP, which I gave. After a few answers to their questions, I noticed that I had just broken through 4000' and I was directly over moffett. I immediately descended to below 4000' until I had completely passed moffett. I was climbing at an altitude which would allow me to get on top and maintain VFR cloud sep. At the same time, my extended dialogue with the pao controller took my attention from my altimeter and put it outside, making WX observations.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT PENETRATED TCA.

Narrative: AFTER CLBING THROUGH A LARGE HOLE IN AN OTHERWISE OVCST (2000') BAY AREA ON A LEFT STANDARD DEP FROM PAO, I HEADED TOWARDS MOFFETT, WHERE THE TOPS WERE ABOUT 3000'. PAO TWR ADVISED THAT IF I KEPT MY PRESENT HDG, I WOULD BE IN MOFFETT AIRSPACE. I TOLD THEM THAT I WAS ALREADY AT 3500' AND CLBING. AT THIS POINT, THE TWR ASKED FOR A PIREP, WHICH I GAVE. AFTER A FEW ANSWERS TO THEIR QUESTIONS, I NOTICED THAT I HAD JUST BROKEN THROUGH 4000' AND I WAS DIRECTLY OVER MOFFETT. I IMMEDIATELY DSNDED TO BELOW 4000' UNTIL I HAD COMPLETELY PASSED MOFFETT. I WAS CLBING AT AN ALT WHICH WOULD ALLOW ME TO GET ON TOP AND MAINTAIN VFR CLOUD SEP. AT THE SAME TIME, MY EXTENDED DIALOGUE WITH THE PAO CTLR TOOK MY ATTN FROM MY ALTIMETER AND PUT IT OUTSIDE, MAKING WX OBSERVATIONS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.