Pilot of small aircraft misinterprets TCA chart and penetrates TCA without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	149703
Time
Date	199006
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lax
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3800 msl bound upper : 3800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lax
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 16 flight time total : 338 flight time type : 338
ASRS Report	149703
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : assigned or threatened penalties faa : investigated faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was flying my small aircraft aircraft from santa paula to torrance. I called los angeles on 134.9 for a radar clearance through, via the shoreline route. I was told by los angeles to take the 'special VFR flight rules area' route. I have lived in the southern new jersey area for the past 5 yrs and I am unfamiliar with the los angeles area. I opened my TCA chart and located the shoreline and hollywood park rtes. The arrows are clear and visable. As I was nearing the los angeles area I recalled 134.9 and did not receive a response. I continued to inspect the chart and only located the shoreline and hollywood park rtes. On the reverse side of the chart I saw an inset directly to the left of the shoreline route which states 'los angeles special flight rules area'. I assumed this was the VFR route and flew through to torrance. After landing I found out about the terrible mistake I made. I know I am at fault. I have since enrolled in a ground school to familiarize myself with the area. My question is, although the VFR route that currently is in use is fine, why can't it be easier located on the chart? Why is it only on a small part of the chart shown on an inset. Maybe the VFR route should be on both sides of the chart with the shoreline and hollywood park rtes. I have attached a copy of what I am writing about. Again I realize I am at fault and I will soon be notified by the FAF; however, maybe my suggestion can be utilized in some way.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMA MISINTERPRETS TCA CHART AND PENETRATES TCA WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING MY SMA ACFT FROM SANTA PAULA TO TORRANCE. I CALLED LOS ANGELES ON 134.9 FOR A RADAR CLRNC THROUGH, VIA THE SHORELINE RTE. I WAS TOLD BY LOS ANGELES TO TAKE THE 'SPECIAL VFR FLT RULES AREA' RTE. I HAVE LIVED IN THE SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY AREA FOR THE PAST 5 YRS AND I AM UNFAMILIAR WITH THE LOS ANGELES AREA. I OPENED MY TCA CHART AND LOCATED THE SHORELINE AND HOLLYWOOD PARK RTES. THE ARROWS ARE CLR AND VISABLE. AS I WAS NEARING THE LOS ANGELES AREA I RECALLED 134.9 AND DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE. I CONTINUED TO INSPECT THE CHART AND ONLY LOCATED THE SHORELINE AND HOLLYWOOD PARK RTES. ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THE CHART I SAW AN INSET DIRECTLY TO THE L OF THE SHORELINE RTE WHICH STATES 'LOS ANGELES SPECIAL FLT RULES AREA'. I ASSUMED THIS WAS THE VFR RTE AND FLEW THROUGH TO TORRANCE. AFTER LNDG I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE TERRIBLE MISTAKE I MADE. I KNOW I AM AT FAULT. I HAVE SINCE ENROLLED IN A GND SCHOOL TO FAMILIARIZE MYSELF WITH THE AREA. MY QUESTION IS, ALTHOUGH THE VFR RTE THAT CURRENTLY IS IN USE IS FINE, WHY CAN'T IT BE EASIER LOCATED ON THE CHART? WHY IS IT ONLY ON A SMALL PART OF THE CHART SHOWN ON AN INSET. MAYBE THE VFR RTE SHOULD BE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CHART WITH THE SHORELINE AND HOLLYWOOD PARK RTES. I HAVE ATTACHED A COPY OF WHAT I AM WRITING ABOUT. AGAIN I REALIZE I AM AT FAULT AND I WILL SOON BE NOTIFIED BY THE FAF; HOWEVER, MAYBE MY SUGGESTION CAN BE UTILIZED IN SOME WAY.

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.