Small aircraft pilot flew at the wrong altitude for direction of flight in sct special use airspace.

Attributes
ACN	577643
Time
Date	200303
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sct.tracon
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sct.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 1700 flight time type : 170
ASRS Report	577643
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : turbulence non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airspace Structure Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I used the wrong VFR altitude for the direction of flight through the la special flight rules area. I reviewed the instructions for use of this airspace on a current chart prior to the flight. I then departed from cma to sna. The cockpit of the airplane is very small and fully opening charts in the limited space available is not possible while flying. The proper eastbound altitude is 3500 ft (odd +500 ft) but, instead, I used 4500 ft. I did not even know I had selected the wrong altitude until I was back on the ground. ATC (socal approach) asked me what altitude I had used, so I told them 4500 ft. ATC then asked why and at that point I realized my error. Quite frankly I am a little befuddled as to why I would mistakenly select and fly the wrong altitude. I have been flying many yrs and these altitudes are second nature -- odd +500 ft for eastbound flight and even +500 ft for wbound flight. I really think my mistake was related to a chain of events that led to human error. It was very windy at cma prior to takeoff when I reviewed the chart. I was also monitoring fuel status on a wing tank prior to changing over to another tank when I used the special flight rules area. It was pretty bumpy with high winds. Finally, I was being vigilant monitoring for traffic.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT FLEW AT THE WRONG ALT FOR DIRECTION OF FLT IN SCT SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE.

Narrative: I USED THE WRONG VFR ALT FOR THE DIRECTION OF FLT THROUGH THE LA SPECIAL FLT RULES AREA. I REVIEWED THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE OF THIS AIRSPACE ON A CURRENT CHART PRIOR TO THE FLT. I THEN DEPARTED FROM CMA TO SNA. THE COCKPIT OF THE AIRPLANE IS VERY SMALL AND FULLY OPENING CHARTS IN THE LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE IS NOT POSSIBLE WHILE FLYING. THE PROPER EBOUND ALT IS 3500 FT (ODD +500 FT) BUT, INSTEAD, I USED 4500 FT. I DID NOT EVEN KNOW I HAD SELECTED THE WRONG ALT UNTIL I WAS BACK ON THE GND. ATC (SOCAL APCH) ASKED ME WHAT ALT I HAD USED, SO I TOLD THEM 4500 FT. ATC THEN ASKED WHY AND AT THAT POINT I REALIZED MY ERROR. QUITE FRANKLY I AM A LITTLE BEFUDDLED AS TO WHY I WOULD MISTAKENLY SELECT AND FLY THE WRONG ALT. I HAVE BEEN FLYING MANY YRS AND THESE ALTS ARE SECOND NATURE -- ODD +500 FT FOR EBOUND FLT AND EVEN +500 FT FOR WBOUND FLT. I REALLY THINK MY MISTAKE WAS RELATED TO A CHAIN OF EVENTS THAT LED TO HUMAN ERROR. IT WAS VERY WINDY AT CMA PRIOR TO TKOF WHEN I REVIEWED THE CHART. I WAS ALSO MONITORING FUEL STATUS ON A WING TANK PRIOR TO CHANGING OVER TO ANOTHER TANK WHEN I USED THE SPECIAL FLT RULES AREA. IT WAS PRETTY BUMPY WITH HIGH WINDS. FINALLY, I WAS BEING VIGILANT MONITORING FOR TFC.

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.