Reporter pilot entered class C airspace by mistake. Being on a cross country flight and flying aroun...

Attributes
ACN	331640
Time
Date	199603
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pns
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pns tower : sat
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Baron 58/58TC
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 1200 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	331640
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I flew a BE58 from milton, fl (2r4), to birmingham, al (bhm). Conditions at milton and birmingham were VFR, so I took off under VFR. Upon leaving milton's traffic pattern I contacted pensacola approach and asked for a VFR flight following to birmingham at 6500 ft. The controller from pensacola responded to my request with a squawk code and instructions to stay clear of the class C airspace. In my confusion I acknowledged the instructions thinking the controller meant pensacola's class C airspace, and headed north direct to birmingham. I was confused because milton is northeast of pensacola regional and its class C airspace. I was already headed north (away from pensacola) so I thought I was clear. After verifying me at 1500 ft MSL the controller informed me I had penetrated whiting NAS class C airspace. At that time I was instructed to climb to 5500 ft at which point I did. I believe the cause of this event could have been prevented by my becoming better or more familiar with the complex airspace in that area and more specific instructions from the controller. It was an accidental penetration caused by my confusion into unfamiliar airspace. The controller was not at fault on this instance, but I was accustomed to ATC giving instructions, such as vectors, to help keep you clear of airspace.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR PLT ENTERED CLASS C AIRSPACE BY MISTAKE. BEING ON A XCOUNTRY FLT AND FLYING AROUND A VERY BUSY NAVY TRAINING AREA, RPTR INADVERTENTLY ENTERED CLASS C. DEP CTLR INTERVENED AND CLRED RPTR TO CLB.

Narrative: I FLEW A BE58 FROM MILTON, FL (2R4), TO BIRMINGHAM, AL (BHM). CONDITIONS AT MILTON AND BIRMINGHAM WERE VFR, SO I TOOK OFF UNDER VFR. UPON LEAVING MILTON'S TFC PATTERN I CONTACTED PENSACOLA APCH AND ASKED FOR A VFR FLT FOLLOWING TO BIRMINGHAM AT 6500 FT. THE CTLR FROM PENSACOLA RESPONDED TO MY REQUEST WITH A SQUAWK CODE AND INSTRUCTIONS TO STAY CLR OF THE CLASS C AIRSPACE. IN MY CONFUSION I ACKNOWLEDGED THE INSTRUCTIONS THINKING THE CTLR MEANT PENSACOLA'S CLASS C AIRSPACE, AND HEADED N DIRECT TO BIRMINGHAM. I WAS CONFUSED BECAUSE MILTON IS NE OF PENSACOLA REGIONAL AND ITS CLASS C AIRSPACE. I WAS ALREADY HEADED N (AWAY FROM PENSACOLA) SO I THOUGHT I WAS CLR. AFTER VERIFYING ME AT 1500 FT MSL THE CTLR INFORMED ME I HAD PENETRATED WHITING NAS CLASS C AIRSPACE. AT THAT TIME I WAS INSTRUCTED TO CLB TO 5500 FT AT WHICH POINT I DID. I BELIEVE THE CAUSE OF THIS EVENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY MY BECOMING BETTER OR MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE COMPLEX AIRSPACE IN THAT AREA AND MORE SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE CTLR. IT WAS AN ACCIDENTAL PENETRATION CAUSED BY MY CONFUSION INTO UNFAMILIAR AIRSPACE. THE CTLR WAS NOT AT FAULT ON THIS INSTANCE, BUT I WAS ACCUSTOMED TO ATC GIVING INSTRUCTIONS, SUCH AS VECTORS, TO HELP KEEP YOU CLR OF 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.

Reporter pilot entered class C airspace by mistake. Being on a cross country flight and flying around a very busy navy training area, reporter inadvertently entered class C. Departure controller intervened and cleared reporter to climb.