Cessna Single Piston Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 129; Flight Crew Total 1171; Flight Crew Type 102
Time Pressure; Training / Qualification; Confusion; Distraction; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Airspace Structure; Human Factors; Procedure
This was my first time overflying LAX. I asked SMO Ground prior to departure if it would be possible to overfly at LAX at 3;500 FT. The Ground Controller said it was possible; and that I should expect to make a climbing right 270 at the shoreline after departure from Runway 21; and then cross over the SMO VOR before proceeding over LAX. After departure; Tower instructed me to proceed to the shoreline; and then make a climbing right 270 to 2;500 MSL. I climbed to 2;500; but then Tower instructed me to climb to 3;500 and change frequencies. I initiated my climb and contacted LAX Tower as is required to fly the LAX mini route.Upon contacting LAX Tower and reporting my altitude; Tower told me I was above his altitude and to contact SCT Approach on another frequency to overfly LAX. After checking in with SCT at 3;500 for the mini route; they informed me that I needed to talk to Tower to fly that route and handed me back to LAX. I reported back in with LAX Tower at 3;500 for the mini route; and Tower said 'you will have to descend to 2;500 before I can clear you through the Class Bravo for the mini route.' I descended as directed.I was expecting a discrete beacon code and a Bravo clearance. However; as I neared the edge of the Class Bravo airspace; Tower hadn't told me anything. I figured that maybe because this was a special VFR transition route; a discrete code was not required. This made me uncomfortable; so just prior to entering the Class B airspace I called LAX Tower one more time: 'Tower; this is my first time flying this route. Just want to confirm what I'm doing is OK.' Tower responded; 'Affirmative; just keep flying that heading and hold that altitude. You're doing great.' After hearing that; I guessed I must be okay; and continued through the Class B airspace over the top of LAX at 2;500. Shortly after crossing over midfield at LAX; Tower advised; 'you are one mile from exiting Class B airspace; radar services are terminated; squawk VFR...oops; looks like I never gave you a code. That's alright. Squawk VFR and contact Hawthorne Tower.' I responded; 'Switching to Hawthorne Tower; good day.'I was very uncomfortable through the whole ordeal; but after asking Tower if I was doing everything correctly and being told 'affirmative;' I was convinced that everything was going fine. However; upon being given the frequency change just prior to exiting Class B airspace and having the Controller admit to forgetting to assign a beacon code; I became very flustered and forgot to check on with Hawthorne Tower. Hawthorne Tower called about a minute later; I responded; and the rest of the flight went smoothly.I think this whole event could have been avoided if there wasn't the confusion on what altitude I needed to climb initially to fly the route. Had either the Ground Controller or Tower Controller at SMO told me I needed to be at 2;500 rather than 3;500 for the route; I would not have had to make the rapid descent to 2;500. If I hadn't had to make that descent; LAX Tower would have been able to clear me for the route 4-5 miles earlier and would have had more time to remember to give me a Bravo clearance and discrete code. I believe the whole event was due to a breakdown in communications from all parties involved.
A small light aircraft pilot attempting his first north to south crossing through the LAX Class B after taking off from SMO met with multiple conflicting ATC communications and clearances; ultimately confusing him to the point he forgot to contact Hawthorne Tower after completing the passage.