Flight of 4 deviates into mry class C airspace without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	420680
Time
Date	199811
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mry airport : sns
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2400 msl bound upper : 2400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mry tower : hnl
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 2000 flight time type : 120
ASRS Report	420680
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

The purpose of the flight was to take air-to-air photos of a citation, an extra, and a raven along the monterey coastline. Myself and the pilot of the raven were the only 2 with prior experience with formation flying. We were a flight of 4 at 1500 ft proceeding down the coastline toward monterey. I was the lead aircraft and coordinated with mry approach for our transition, while monitoring and directing the group on an air-to-air frequency. We proceeded south of monterey and were told to 'remain clear of class C and squawk 1200.' I told the group to maintain 2400 ft MSL, just below the class C, just in case. Then once cleared through class C, I told them so. Very shortly after this, we were told to remain clear of class C. The citation and the extra were off my left wing, putting them just inside the inner circle. I was on the salinas 210 degree radial, which was just outside the inner circle. I tried to communicate with the citation and extra to bring them further east and clear of class C, but could not get them on frequency. Meanwhile, mry approach asked me to identify and told me that there was a pilot deviation and to call this number. I called and they just told me to be careful, but it sounded like no enforcement action would be taken. In retrospect, we should have had better communication, a better plan of action, and more experience.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT OF 4 DEVIATES INTO MRY CLASS C AIRSPACE WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: THE PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS TO TAKE AIR-TO-AIR PHOTOS OF A CITATION, AN EXTRA, AND A RAVEN ALONG THE MONTEREY COASTLINE. MYSELF AND THE PLT OF THE RAVEN WERE THE ONLY 2 WITH PRIOR EXPERIENCE WITH FORMATION FLYING. WE WERE A FLT OF 4 AT 1500 FT PROCEEDING DOWN THE COASTLINE TOWARD MONTEREY. I WAS THE LEAD ACFT AND COORDINATED WITH MRY APCH FOR OUR TRANSITION, WHILE MONITORING AND DIRECTING THE GROUP ON AN AIR-TO-AIR FREQ. WE PROCEEDED S OF MONTEREY AND WERE TOLD TO 'REMAIN CLR OF CLASS C AND SQUAWK 1200.' I TOLD THE GROUP TO MAINTAIN 2400 FT MSL, JUST BELOW THE CLASS C, JUST IN CASE. THEN ONCE CLRED THROUGH CLASS C, I TOLD THEM SO. VERY SHORTLY AFTER THIS, WE WERE TOLD TO REMAIN CLR OF CLASS C. THE CITATION AND THE EXTRA WERE OFF MY L WING, PUTTING THEM JUST INSIDE THE INNER CIRCLE. I WAS ON THE SALINAS 210 DEG RADIAL, WHICH WAS JUST OUTSIDE THE INNER CIRCLE. I TRIED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE CITATION AND EXTRA TO BRING THEM FURTHER E AND CLR OF CLASS C, BUT COULD NOT GET THEM ON FREQ. MEANWHILE, MRY APCH ASKED ME TO IDENT AND TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A PLTDEV AND TO CALL THIS NUMBER. I CALLED AND THEY JUST TOLD ME TO BE CAREFUL, BUT IT SOUNDED LIKE NO ENFORCEMENT ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN. IN RETROSPECT, WE SHOULD HAVE HAD BETTER COM, A BETTER PLAN OF ACTION, AND MORE EXPERIENCE.

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.