Narrative:

On descending to rhv - listened to ATIS - called 14 mi northeast told to call at 3 mi, no other information, called at 10-12 mi, ask for arrival planning information, runway, etc. Understood, 'pick up 45 degree to the west then downwind.' I headed for the west side of the airport (about 4 mi crossed departure end) to start a 45 degree pattern entry, from the west. Tower called, asked position, 4 mi north at 2500 ft. Tower reported I was in violation of sjc class C airspace and to make a left turn. I turned 30 degrees left. State, ok I'm in a violation, what would you like me to do?' new controller #2 comes on and shouts at me 'you're in serious violation of class C airspace, make a hard left turn.' I turned and I told him 'I headed for your departing traffic. What would you like?' silence! I suggest, I will pick up downwind for runway 31L, and I'm given approval for downwind runway 31L. I say I was going to pick up the 45 from the west. Then I get a 30 second triad shouting, harassing, verbal chew, while I'm trying to fly the downwind and complete pre-landing checks. I realize I can't see the approach end of the runway, too far behind my left shoulder. I request to go a little further to turn around to see the runway. 'No, start your base turn now!' 'ok, I'll see if I can make it.' yes, I did no problem, good landing. Yes, I misunderstood the controller's instructions, 45 degrees to the west for runway 31R. Yes, I violated the class C airspace, no other planes were in class C. Yes, I got verbally chewed, and yes, the controller #2 created a hostile environment in my cockpit. It just added to my embarrassment and made it very difficult to complete the approach. He could have asked me to call on the ground.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LANCAIR LEGACY VIOLATES SJC CLASS C DURING LNDG ATTEMPT AT RHV, CHALLENGED BY UNPROFESSIONAL ATTITUDE BY RHV CTLR.

Narrative: ON DSNDING TO RHV - LISTENED TO ATIS - CALLED 14 MI NE TOLD TO CALL AT 3 MI, NO OTHER INFO, CALLED AT 10-12 MI, ASK FOR ARR PLANNING INFO, RWY, ETC. UNDERSTOOD, 'PICK UP 45 DEG TO THE W THEN DOWNWIND.' I HEADED FOR THE W SIDE OF THE ARPT (ABOUT 4 MI CROSSED DEP END) TO START A 45 DEG PATTERN ENTRY, FROM THE W. TWR CALLED, ASKED POS, 4 MI N AT 2500 FT. TWR RPTED I WAS IN VIOLATION OF SJC CLASS C AIRSPACE AND TO MAKE A L TURN. I TURNED 30 DEGS L. STATE, OK I'M IN A VIOLATION, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO DO?' NEW CTLR #2 COMES ON AND SHOUTS AT ME 'YOU'RE IN SERIOUS VIOLATION OF CLASS C AIRSPACE, MAKE A HARD L TURN.' I TURNED AND I TOLD HIM 'I HEADED FOR YOUR DEPARTING TFC. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE?' SILENCE! I SUGGEST, I WILL PICK UP DOWNWIND FOR RWY 31L, AND I'M GIVEN APPROVAL FOR DOWNWIND RWY 31L. I SAY I WAS GOING TO PICK UP THE 45 FROM THE W. THEN I GET A 30 SECOND TRIAD SHOUTING, HARASSING, VERBAL CHEW, WHILE I'M TRYING TO FLY THE DOWNWIND AND COMPLETE PRE-LNDG CHKS. I REALIZE I CAN'T SEE THE APCH END OF THE RWY, TOO FAR BEHIND MY L SHOULDER. I REQUEST TO GO A LITTLE FURTHER TO TURN AROUND TO SEE THE RWY. 'NO, START YOUR BASE TURN NOW!' 'OK, I'LL SEE IF I CAN MAKE IT.' YES, I DID NO PROB, GOOD LNDG. YES, I MISUNDERSTOOD THE CTLR'S INSTRUCTIONS, 45 DEGS TO THE W FOR RWY 31R. YES, I VIOLATED THE CLASS C AIRSPACE, NO OTHER PLANES WERE IN CLASS C. YES, I GOT VERBALLY CHEWED, AND YES, THE CTLR #2 CREATED A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT IN MY COCKPIT. IT JUST ADDED TO MY EMBARRASSMENT AND MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO COMPLETE THE APCH. HE COULD HAVE ASKED ME TO CALL ON THE GND.

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.