Small aircraft with instructor aboard penetrates class C airspace without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	327380
Time
Date	199602
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : vny
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : vny
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff climbout : initial
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 70 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 95
ASRS Report	327380
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
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:

We departed vny in day, VFR conditions. Tower approved a left downwind after reaching 2500 ft. Floor of class C airspace overlies field at 3000 ft. After turning to downwind, encountered turbulent conditions, and while discussing occurrence with student, as well as how we would enter los angeles special flight rules areas (sfra), noted altimeter reading 3300 ft. Immediately corrected to 3000 ft and resumed flight to sfra. After clearing the class C area, climbed to and maintained 3500 ft, the altitude required for entry into the sfra. We should have more thoroughly discussed procedures prior to departure, and I (CFI) should have been more aware of the altitude. Although we were only 300 ft inside class C for a mile or so, that is still no excuse for lack of attention to detail. Lesson learned!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA WITH INSTRUCTOR ABOARD PENETRATES CLASS C AIRSPACE WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: WE DEPARTED VNY IN DAY, VFR CONDITIONS. TWR APPROVED A L DOWNWIND AFTER REACHING 2500 FT. FLOOR OF CLASS C AIRSPACE OVERLIES FIELD AT 3000 FT. AFTER TURNING TO DOWNWIND, ENCOUNTERED TURBULENT CONDITIONS, AND WHILE DISCUSSING OCCURRENCE WITH STUDENT, AS WELL AS HOW WE WOULD ENTER LOS ANGELES SPECIAL FLT RULES AREAS (SFRA), NOTED ALTIMETER READING 3300 FT. IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED TO 3000 FT AND RESUMED FLT TO SFRA. AFTER CLRING THE CLASS C AREA, CLBED TO AND MAINTAINED 3500 FT, THE ALT REQUIRED FOR ENTRY INTO THE SFRA. WE SHOULD HAVE MORE THOROUGHLY DISCUSSED PROCS PRIOR TO DEP, AND I (CFI) SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE AWARE OF THE ALT. ALTHOUGH WE WERE ONLY 300 FT INSIDE CLASS C FOR A MILE OR SO, THAT IS STILL NO EXCUSE FOR LACK OF ATTN TO DETAIL. LESSON LEARNED!

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.