A C182 pilot inadvertently enters both a class D and class C airspace without authority/authorized a...

Attributes
ACN	377370
Time
Date	199708
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sjc airport : sql
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 800 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : nuq tracon : oak tower : sql tower : sjc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 70 flight time total : 2600 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	377370
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Was en route to san carlos, ca. Had been on flight following since lemoore NAS. Confirmed with ZOA that I would be 'worked' into san carlos (first flight into bay area). Handed off to bay approach and was on a heading (not assigned by ATC) from watsonville to san carlos to remain clear of all controled airspace. Near san jose radar service was terminated with no explanation or advisories. From looking at landmarks it is possible that I 'nicked' the sjc class C area slightly. As soon as I noticed I was close I turned away to the west and descended below it. I then contacted the san carlos tower and was advised by them (a few mins later) that I was descending into moffett field class D area. I intruded approximately 1 mi into their airspace and turned away as soon as it was pointed out. During all this I also descended below pattern altitude. I believe that the lowest I got was 700 ft AGL. The san jose incident (if there really was one) could have been avoided with a warning from bay approach and a vector away from san jose. This added to my workload which coupled with unfamiliar territory and over 3 hours of flying set me up for getting into moffett's airspace and getting too low. I should have used better pilotage (more landmarks) in addition to the heading I had calculated.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C182 PLT INADVERTENTLY ENTERS BOTH A CLASS D AND CLASS C AIRSPACE WITHOUT AUTH AND HE ALSO DSNDED BELOW THE SQL TFC PATTERN ALT WHILE STILL IN NUQ AIRSPACE.

Narrative: WAS ENRTE TO SAN CARLOS, CA. HAD BEEN ON FLT FOLLOWING SINCE LEMOORE NAS. CONFIRMED WITH ZOA THAT I WOULD BE 'WORKED' INTO SAN CARLOS (FIRST FLT INTO BAY AREA). HANDED OFF TO BAY APCH AND WAS ON A HDG (NOT ASSIGNED BY ATC) FROM WATSONVILLE TO SAN CARLOS TO REMAIN CLR OF ALL CTLED AIRSPACE. NEAR SAN JOSE RADAR SVC WAS TERMINATED WITH NO EXPLANATION OR ADVISORIES. FROM LOOKING AT LANDMARKS IT IS POSSIBLE THAT I 'NICKED' THE SJC CLASS C AREA SLIGHTLY. AS SOON AS I NOTICED I WAS CLOSE I TURNED AWAY TO THE W AND DSNDED BELOW IT. I THEN CONTACTED THE SAN CARLOS TWR AND WAS ADVISED BY THEM (A FEW MINS LATER) THAT I WAS DSNDING INTO MOFFETT FIELD CLASS D AREA. I INTRUDED APPROX 1 MI INTO THEIR AIRSPACE AND TURNED AWAY AS SOON AS IT WAS POINTED OUT. DURING ALL THIS I ALSO DSNDED BELOW PATTERN ALT. I BELIEVE THAT THE LOWEST I GOT WAS 700 FT AGL. THE SAN JOSE INCIDENT (IF THERE REALLY WAS ONE) COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED WITH A WARNING FROM BAY APCH AND A VECTOR AWAY FROM SAN JOSE. THIS ADDED TO MY WORKLOAD WHICH COUPLED WITH UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY AND OVER 3 HRS OF FLYING SET ME UP FOR GETTING INTO MOFFETT'S AIRSPACE AND GETTING TOO LOW. I SHOULD HAVE USED BETTER PILOTAGE (MORE LANDMARKS) IN ADDITION TO THE HDG I HAD CALCULATED.

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.

A C182 pilot inadvertently enters both a class D and class C airspace without authority/authorized and he also descended below the sql traffic pattern altitude while still in nuq airspace.