Trying to maintain VFR conditions, a piper pilot inadvertently enters the top of class D airspace.

Attributes
ACN	522300
Time
Date	200108
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ttd.airport
State Reference	OR
Altitude	msl single value : 1200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude descent : vacating altitude
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 44 flight time total : 2000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	522300
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was VFR on top. In order to remain VFR, I was descending under the broken clouds. While navigating to stay clear of clouds, I entered class D airspace without clearance. When I saw the airport and realized my mistake, I looked and saw no other traffic. Then I exited controled airspace immediately. I called the tower to explain. Contributing factors were: staying clear of clouds, and attention to my 90 yr old mother. Also, for arriving on time for my wedding planning. (I should have been talking to ATC and paying more attention.)

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TRYING TO MAINTAIN VFR CONDITIONS, A PIPER PLT INADVERTENTLY ENTERS THE TOP OF CLASS D AIRSPACE.

Narrative: I WAS VFR ON TOP. IN ORDER TO REMAIN VFR, I WAS DSNDING UNDER THE BROKEN CLOUDS. WHILE NAVING TO STAY CLR OF CLOUDS, I ENTERED CLASS D AIRSPACE WITHOUT CLRNC. WHEN I SAW THE ARPT AND REALIZED MY MISTAKE, I LOOKED AND SAW NO OTHER TFC. THEN I EXITED CTLED AIRSPACE IMMEDIATELY. I CALLED THE TWR TO EXPLAIN. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: STAYING CLR OF CLOUDS, AND ATTN TO MY 90 YR OLD MOTHER. ALSO, FOR ARRIVING ON TIME FOR MY WEDDING PLANNING. (I SHOULD HAVE BEEN TALKING TO ATC AND PAYING MORE ATTN.)

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.