Unauthorized penetration of lgb air traffic area and close proximity with 2 other GA aircraft as rep...

Attributes
ACN	131392
Time
Date	198912
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lgb
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : lgb
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 225 flight time type : 128
ASRS Report	131392
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 1000 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On a flight to hawthorne airport, approximately 10 mi east of lgb, I began a descent from 6500'. Continued to descend below ceiling that appeared to be 8 mi ahead. Leveled off at 2500'. Just west of the seal beach VOR the ceiling began to lower from 3500' and I began to once again descend to stay clear of clouds; visibility was approximately 1-3 mi. Some mins later I could see lgb and discovered that I had inadvertently flown into their airspace. I flew level for the ensuring minute and climbed toward a hole in the overcast to an altitude of 3500'. In the process I passed 2 aircraft traveling in the opp direction and not less than 1000' horizontal and 500' vertical to my plane. I DOD nit contact lgb tower during these moments fearing severe consequences. My decision to descend under the overcast was based on the feeling that I would get caught 'on top,' and the belief that the ceiling would be higher as told by flight service during my standard briefing prior to departure.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNAUTH PENETRATION OF LGB ATA AND CLOSE PROX WITH 2 OTHER GA ACFT AS REPORTER CLIMBED THROUGH A HOLE TO CLEAR THE ATA.

Narrative: ON A FLT TO HAWTHORNE ARPT, APPROX 10 MI E OF LGB, I BEGAN A DSCNT FROM 6500'. CONTINUED TO DSND BELOW CEILING THAT APPEARED TO BE 8 MI AHEAD. LEVELED OFF AT 2500'. JUST W OF THE SEAL BEACH VOR THE CEILING BEGAN TO LOWER FROM 3500' AND I BEGAN TO ONCE AGAIN DSND TO STAY CLR OF CLOUDS; VISIBILITY WAS APPROX 1-3 MI. SOME MINS LATER I COULD SEE LGB AND DISCOVERED THAT I HAD INADVERTENTLY FLOWN INTO THEIR AIRSPACE. I FLEW LEVEL FOR THE ENSURING MINUTE AND CLBED TOWARD A HOLE IN THE OVCST TO AN ALT OF 3500'. IN THE PROCESS I PASSED 2 ACFT TRAVELING IN THE OPP DIRECTION AND NOT LESS THAN 1000' HORIZ AND 500' VERT TO MY PLANE. I DOD NIT CONTACT LGB TWR DURING THESE MOMENTS FEARING SEVERE CONSEQUENCES. MY DECISION TO DSND UNDER THE OVCST WAS BASED ON THE FEELING THAT I WOULD GET CAUGHT 'ON TOP,' AND THE BELIEF THAT THE CEILING WOULD BE HIGHER AS TOLD BY FLT SVC DURING MY STANDARD BRIEFING PRIOR TO DEP.

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.

Unauthorized penetration of lgb air traffic area and close proximity with 2 other GA aircraft as reporter climbed through a hole to clear the air traffic area.