Narrative:

While in the pattern on takeoff to crosswind, a mental lapse (inattn to altitude) resulted in penetration into class C airspace for approximately 45 seconds to 1 min. The floor of this airspace is at 1600 ft. Radio contact wasn't made with the ATC facility as a result of the inadvertent incursion. Tpa is 1300 ft for this airport. This situation was discovered after taking attention away from engine instruments and discovering the aircraft remained in a climb and penetrated the class C airspace by approximately 1000 ft. A contributing factor is this aircraft is modified to be able to climb at 1500 FPM -- not usual for this make and model -- greater attention is required in this aircraft to airspeed and altitude. Also a factor is the close proximity the pattern of this uncontrolled airport to the class C airspace.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C172 PVT PLT CLBS ABOVE THE TFC PATTERN ALT AT Q60 AND ENTERS INTO THE CLASS C AIRSPACE CTLED BY FAT APCH CTL.

Narrative: WHILE IN THE PATTERN ON TKOF TO XWIND, A MENTAL LAPSE (INATTN TO ALT) RESULTED IN PENETRATION INTO CLASS C AIRSPACE FOR APPROX 45 SECONDS TO 1 MIN. THE FLOOR OF THIS AIRSPACE IS AT 1600 FT. RADIO CONTACT WASN'T MADE WITH THE ATC FACILITY AS A RESULT OF THE INADVERTENT INCURSION. TPA IS 1300 FT FOR THIS ARPT. THIS SIT WAS DISCOVERED AFTER TAKING ATTN AWAY FROM ENG INSTS AND DISCOVERING THE ACFT REMAINED IN A CLB AND PENETRATED THE CLASS C AIRSPACE BY APPROX 1000 FT. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IS THIS ACFT IS MODIFIED TO BE ABLE TO CLB AT 1500 FPM -- NOT USUAL FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL -- GREATER ATTN IS REQUIRED IN THIS ACFT TO AIRSPD AND ALT. ALSO A FACTOR IS THE CLOSE PROX THE PATTERN OF THIS UNCTLED ARPT TO THE 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.