Narrative:

This incident occurred primarily due to my being 20 pounds too heavy. The SID from ZZZ1 requires a climb to 1800 ft; runway heading; then a turn to the ZZZ2 VOR; climbing to cross at or above 7000 ft; then assigned route. When flying IFR; I typically fly one segment at a time; that is; for this departure; climb to 1800 ft; runway heading. Then the turn to the VOR; etc. My problems began when I attempted to locate the next segment; or the routing segment. I couldn't locate it on my chart; and that caused a great deal of confusion. My initial clearance included a climb to 8000 ft; yet it appeared I was held to 1800 ft. When I asked departure for higher; I was again cleared to 8000 ft; and the controller asked if I had been restr to 1800 ft. I replied no; that I was following the SID. He advised me to climb to 8000 ft; via the abc VOR; and if I was unable to cross at or above 7000 ft to hold as depicted. I immediately told him I was entering the hold and he responded to my call. I encountered IMC at approximately 6000 ft MSL; and as I took the published SID from my lap; I immediately saw the routing section that had been obscured under my protruding stomach and shirt. I was so embarrassed that I didn't tell the controller what my problem was; and wasn't going to tell anybody other than my passenger what had taken place. However; since most of us are packing a bit more weight than we probably should; I came to the realization that this should be noted. Please note that the controller involved was professional; and didn't chew me out for not having the complete SID at my disposal. The short term answer to my situation is to use a chart clip instead of your lap to hold your charts. There was one on the airplane but it had been moved over to the side and was of no use at the time. I will move it back where it belongs. And the long term answer is to lose a bit of weight (my abs became slabs 20 yrs ago); and to not wear a shirt over the pants to prevent others from noticing your paunch.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PILOT FLYING A SID ASKS ATC FOR HELP WITH THE ROUTING AND ALT CLEARANCES WHEN HE COULDN'T SEE ROUTE ON CHART.

Narrative: THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED PRIMARILY DUE TO MY BEING 20 LBS TOO HVY. THE SID FROM ZZZ1 REQUIRES A CLB TO 1800 FT; RWY HDG; THEN A TURN TO THE ZZZ2 VOR; CLBING TO CROSS AT OR ABOVE 7000 FT; THEN ASSIGNED RTE. WHEN FLYING IFR; I TYPICALLY FLY ONE SEGMENT AT A TIME; THAT IS; FOR THIS DEP; CLB TO 1800 FT; RWY HDG. THEN THE TURN TO THE VOR; ETC. MY PROBS BEGAN WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO LOCATE THE NEXT SEGMENT; OR THE ROUTING SEGMENT. I COULDN'T LOCATE IT ON MY CHART; AND THAT CAUSED A GREAT DEAL OF CONFUSION. MY INITIAL CLRNC INCLUDED A CLB TO 8000 FT; YET IT APPEARED I WAS HELD TO 1800 FT. WHEN I ASKED DEP FOR HIGHER; I WAS AGAIN CLRED TO 8000 FT; AND THE CTLR ASKED IF I HAD BEEN RESTR TO 1800 FT. I REPLIED NO; THAT I WAS FOLLOWING THE SID. HE ADVISED ME TO CLB TO 8000 FT; VIA THE ABC VOR; AND IF I WAS UNABLE TO CROSS AT OR ABOVE 7000 FT TO HOLD AS DEPICTED. I IMMEDIATELY TOLD HIM I WAS ENTERING THE HOLD AND HE RESPONDED TO MY CALL. I ENCOUNTERED IMC AT APPROX 6000 FT MSL; AND AS I TOOK THE PUBLISHED SID FROM MY LAP; I IMMEDIATELY SAW THE ROUTING SECTION THAT HAD BEEN OBSCURED UNDER MY PROTRUDING STOMACH AND SHIRT. I WAS SO EMBARRASSED THAT I DIDN'T TELL THE CTLR WHAT MY PROB WAS; AND WASN'T GOING TO TELL ANYBODY OTHER THAN MY PAX WHAT HAD TAKEN PLACE. HOWEVER; SINCE MOST OF US ARE PACKING A BIT MORE WT THAN WE PROBABLY SHOULD; I CAME TO THE REALIZATION THAT THIS SHOULD BE NOTED. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CTLR INVOLVED WAS PROFESSIONAL; AND DIDN'T CHEW ME OUT FOR NOT HAVING THE COMPLETE SID AT MY DISPOSAL. THE SHORT TERM ANSWER TO MY SITUATION IS TO USE A CHART CLIP INSTEAD OF YOUR LAP TO HOLD YOUR CHARTS. THERE WAS ONE ON THE AIRPLANE BUT IT HAD BEEN MOVED OVER TO THE SIDE AND WAS OF NO USE AT THE TIME. I WILL MOVE IT BACK WHERE IT BELONGS. AND THE LONG TERM ANSWER IS TO LOSE A BIT OF WT (MY ABS BECAME SLABS 20 YRS AGO); AND TO NOT WEAR A SHIRT OVER THE PANTS TO PREVENT OTHERS FROM NOTICING YOUR PAUNCH.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.