GA small aircraft altitude excursion causing possible penetration of TCA and potential conflict with...

Attributes
ACN	93714
Time
Date	198809
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : san airport : myf
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : san
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 1200
ASRS Report	93714
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

Climbing out of montgomery airport, I requested a frequency change to approach/departure control, which was oiled by tower, contacted departure and was given a squawk code, (radar identify) and traffic 12 O'clock and a mi or 2 away, and to maintain 3000'. I don't recall being cleared to enter TCA, so I was keeping track of my position to avoid entering. The controller came back a couple of more times about the same traffic and showed concern in his voice about us not seeing each other. The small aircraft climbs rapidly and my attention was focused more to watching for my traffic than scaling my own aircraft. I was at 3300' when the controller called back to question my altitude. It was an error on my part and I am usually very alert as to staying ahead of the aircraft. I fly mostly in the la area and find the TCA very easy to read and navigation, but even sitting at a table and studying the san diego chart can still cause confusion.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA ALT EXCURSION CAUSING POSSIBLE PENETRATION OF TCA AND POTENTIAL CONFLICT WITH SMA.

Narrative: CLBING OUT OF MONTGOMERY ARPT, I REQUESTED A FREQ CHANGE TO APCH/DEP CTL, WHICH WAS OILED BY TWR, CONTACTED DEP AND WAS GIVEN A SQUAWK CODE, (RADAR IDENT) AND TFC 12 O'CLOCK AND A MI OR 2 AWAY, AND TO MAINTAIN 3000'. I DON'T RECALL BEING CLRED TO ENTER TCA, SO I WAS KEEPING TRACK OF MY POS TO AVOID ENTERING. THE CTLR CAME BACK A COUPLE OF MORE TIMES ABOUT THE SAME TFC AND SHOWED CONCERN IN HIS VOICE ABOUT US NOT SEEING EACH OTHER. THE SMA CLBS RAPIDLY AND MY ATTN WAS FOCUSED MORE TO WATCHING FOR MY TFC THAN SCALING MY OWN ACFT. I WAS AT 3300' WHEN THE CTLR CALLED BACK TO QUESTION MY ALT. IT WAS AN ERROR ON MY PART AND I AM USUALLY VERY ALERT AS TO STAYING AHEAD OF THE ACFT. I FLY MOSTLY IN THE LA AREA AND FIND THE TCA VERY EASY TO READ AND NAV, BUT EVEN SITTING AT A TABLE AND STUDYING THE SAN DIEGO CHART CAN STILL CAUSE CONFUSION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.

GA small aircraft altitude excursion causing possible penetration of TCA and potential conflict with small aircraft.