A BE55 pilot is concerned that he entered class C airspace without a clearance.

Attributes
ACN	595414
Time
Date	200309
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mdd.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl single value : 7500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : maf.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Baron 55/Cochise
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : initial
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 5 flight time total : 1395 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	595414
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor Airspace Structure FAA Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

I flew to midland, texas, from dallas. Midland international airport was to be closed for a good portion of the day due to the air show that was being held at that field. There were multiple NOTAMS issued for the area pertaining to the airport closure and the air show activities. Prior to my flight, I had called 3 different flight service briefers for a clarification of the NOTAMS, which were somewhat confusing, but the briefers were also confused by the language of the NOTAMS. I eventually called the airport administration at midland international to get an explanation of the details pertaining to the airport closure times. I flew into mdd at approximately XA30. Mdd is an uncontrolled airport just inside the northern edge of class C ring of midland international airport. I was on flight following with fort worth center, which handed me off to midland approach as I neared my destination. Midland approach directed me to mdd without ever mentioning that I was cleared into class C airspace. Relying on the closure of midland international airport and the class C airspace being inactive. I departed from mdd at approximately XG30 without obtaining a clearance. I departed the area to the north and would have exited the class C airspace, if it was indeed active, within 1 or 2 mins at the most. I then contacted fort worth center for flight following back to dallas.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BE55 PLT IS CONCERNED THAT HE ENTERED CLASS C AIRSPACE WITHOUT A CLRNC.

Narrative: I FLEW TO MIDLAND, TEXAS, FROM DALLAS. MIDLAND INTL ARPT WAS TO BE CLOSED FOR A GOOD PORTION OF THE DAY DUE TO THE AIR SHOW THAT WAS BEING HELD AT THAT FIELD. THERE WERE MULTIPLE NOTAMS ISSUED FOR THE AREA PERTAINING TO THE ARPT CLOSURE AND THE AIR SHOW ACTIVITIES. PRIOR TO MY FLT, I HAD CALLED 3 DIFFERENT FLT SVC BRIEFERS FOR A CLARIFICATION OF THE NOTAMS, WHICH WERE SOMEWHAT CONFUSING, BUT THE BRIEFERS WERE ALSO CONFUSED BY THE LANGUAGE OF THE NOTAMS. I EVENTUALLY CALLED THE ARPT ADMINISTRATION AT MIDLAND INTL TO GET AN EXPLANATION OF THE DETAILS PERTAINING TO THE ARPT CLOSURE TIMES. I FLEW INTO MDD AT APPROX XA30. MDD IS AN UNCTLED ARPT JUST INSIDE THE NORTHERN EDGE OF CLASS C RING OF MIDLAND INTL ARPT. I WAS ON FLT FOLLOWING WITH FORT WORTH CTR, WHICH HANDED ME OFF TO MIDLAND APCH AS I NEARED MY DEST. MIDLAND APCH DIRECTED ME TO MDD WITHOUT EVER MENTIONING THAT I WAS CLRED INTO CLASS C AIRSPACE. RELYING ON THE CLOSURE OF MIDLAND INTL ARPT AND THE CLASS C AIRSPACE BEING INACTIVE. I DEPARTED FROM MDD AT APPROX XG30 WITHOUT OBTAINING A CLRNC. I DEPARTED THE AREA TO THE N AND WOULD HAVE EXITED THE CLASS C AIRSPACE, IF IT WAS INDEED ACTIVE, WITHIN 1 OR 2 MINS AT THE MOST. I THEN CONTACTED FORT WORTH CTR FOR FLT FOLLOWING BACK TO DALLAS.

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.