Small aircraft pilot misreads altimeter flies 800 ft over populated area.

Attributes
ACN	257853
Time
Date	199311
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bur
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 800 msl bound upper : 800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lax
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 615 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	257853
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was returning from long beach airport VFR using the los angeles river for pilotage on a 20 min flight to whiteman airpark (whp). I was busy reading the lax TCA map to avoid class B airspace and misread my altimeter. I thought I was at 1800 ft MSL when in reality I was at 800 ft MSL. I did not discover my mistake until I called bur class C for transition and they advised me to check my transponder and altimeter because of the last reading. Upon realizing my mistake I initiated a climb to 1800 ft. I was subsequently cited by lax police department helicopter for 21407 P.U.C. Reckless flying. Some of the factors that contributed to this error were: 1) unfamiliar with the lax basin area. 2) preoccupation with avoiding class B airspace. 3) being based at a 1000 ft MSL airport versus lgb at 27 ft MSL. 4) the stress factor of just completing a check ride. 5) quite a few hours of preparing for a check ride flying at 700-900 ft above the ground. I think this can be avoided by making sure to be in the proper frame of mind for flying no matter what kind of flight it is. Also evaluating the stress factors and the time it may take to alleviate them before flying.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT MISREADS ALTIMETER FLIES 800 FT OVER POPULATED AREA.

Narrative: I WAS RETURNING FROM LONG BEACH ARPT VFR USING THE LOS ANGELES RIVER FOR PILOTAGE ON A 20 MIN FLT TO WHITEMAN AIRPARK (WHP). I WAS BUSY READING THE LAX TCA MAP TO AVOID CLASS B AIRSPACE AND MISREAD MY ALTIMETER. I THOUGHT I WAS AT 1800 FT MSL WHEN IN REALITY I WAS AT 800 FT MSL. I DID NOT DISCOVER MY MISTAKE UNTIL I CALLED BUR CLASS C FOR TRANSITION AND THEY ADVISED ME TO CHK MY XPONDER AND ALTIMETER BECAUSE OF THE LAST READING. UPON REALIZING MY MISTAKE I INITIATED A CLB TO 1800 FT. I WAS SUBSEQUENTLY CITED BY LAX POLICE DEPT HELI FOR 21407 P.U.C. RECKLESS FLYING. SOME OF THE FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THIS ERROR WERE: 1) UNFAMILIAR WITH THE LAX BASIN AREA. 2) PREOCCUPATION WITH AVOIDING CLASS B AIRSPACE. 3) BEING BASED AT A 1000 FT MSL ARPT VERSUS LGB AT 27 FT MSL. 4) THE STRESS FACTOR OF JUST COMPLETING A CHK RIDE. 5) QUITE A FEW HRS OF PREPARING FOR A CHK RIDE FLYING AT 700-900 FT ABOVE THE GND. I THINK THIS CAN BE AVOIDED BY MAKING SURE TO BE IN THE PROPER FRAME OF MIND FOR FLYING NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF FLT IT IS. ALSO EVALUATING THE STRESS FACTORS AND THE TIME IT MAY TAKE TO ALLEVIATE THEM BEFORE FLYING.

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.