BE35 pilot may have penetrated class C airspace.

Attributes
ACN	318470
Time
Date	199510
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : cmi airport : c16
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2400 msl bound upper : 2400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Bonanza 35
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : initial cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Cessna 150
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff climbout : initial
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 2200 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	318470
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Cmi is the hub airport of class C airspace (formerly arsa). We departed C16 (frasca) which is under the outer ring of the class C airspace. Our on course heading was 350 degrees, therefore, we cleared the class C 'area' in 3.2 mi. A cessna 150 departed C16 immediately prior to our takeoff. It was also headed northbound. Our aircraft was a BE35 (bonanza). Since we were substantially faster than the cessna 150, my primary focus, once airborne, was maintaining a safe separation from the cessna 150 as we overtook that plane. We may have penetrated the class C airspace without authority/authorized near the edge of the outer ring due to our focus on the cessna 150. We had not established radio contact with champaign approach control. I am not aware of any conflict with any plane within the cmi class C airspace.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE35 PLT MAY HAVE PENETRATED CLASS C AIRSPACE.

Narrative: CMI IS THE HUB ARPT OF CLASS C AIRSPACE (FORMERLY ARSA). WE DEPARTED C16 (FRASCA) WHICH IS UNDER THE OUTER RING OF THE CLASS C AIRSPACE. OUR ON COURSE HDG WAS 350 DEGS, THEREFORE, WE CLRED THE CLASS C 'AREA' IN 3.2 MI. A CESSNA 150 DEPARTED C16 IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO OUR TKOF. IT WAS ALSO HEADED NBOUND. OUR ACFT WAS A BE35 (BONANZA). SINCE WE WERE SUBSTANTIALLY FASTER THAN THE CESSNA 150, MY PRIMARY FOCUS, ONCE AIRBORNE, WAS MAINTAINING A SAFE SEPARATION FROM THE CESSNA 150 AS WE OVERTOOK THAT PLANE. WE MAY HAVE PENETRATED THE CLASS C AIRSPACE WITHOUT AUTH NEAR THE EDGE OF THE OUTER RING DUE TO OUR FOCUS ON THE CESSNA 150. WE HAD NOT ESTABLISHED RADIO CONTACT WITH CHAMPAIGN APCH CTL. I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY CONFLICT WITH ANY PLANE WITHIN THE CMI CLASS C AIRSPACE.

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.