Small Aircraft
Confusion; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Airspace Structure; Human Factors; Procedure
The controller working Flight Data at the time cleared an aircraft off of C83 via the obstacle departure procedure (ODP). Flight Data then coordinated the departure climbing to 4;000 ft. on the ODP with me. I was working the sector responsible for the airport at the time and released the departure. I radar identified the departure aircraft; verified altitude and climbed them to 6;000 ft. As the aircraft was maneuvering in the climb it appeared they were not on the ODP. I then asked the pilot to verify they were climbing via the ODP. The pilot responded that they were direct to a fix but have the terrain in sight. At this time the aircraft was climbing through 2;600 ft. in a 3;000 ft. MVA (Minimum Vectoring Altitude) on a heading towards higher terrain. At this facility we are able to vector below the MVA as long as the aircraft is not restricted below the MVA and within 900 ft. of the MVA. Using the '900 ft. rule' I issued a low altitude alert and a turn away from higher terrain. I also re-cleared them to climb to 6;000 ft. immediately. After the aircraft was above the MVAs I continued vectors to destination and issued a Brasher warning with a number to call upon landing.I believe this event was the result of a pilot deviation. I do not think anything could have been done to prevent this event as a controller.
Departed C83 airport IFR; I deviated from the ODP (Obstacle Departure Procedure) because I had relatively good visual with the ground and was proceeding direct to destination; when ATC informed me of the error of my ways and vectored me back to the ODP heading. The weather was marginal VFR to the point that sky diving was going on at the airport. I realize now that ATC has no idea that I had visual with the ground and that I increased their workload to handle my errant ways.
TRACON Controller and the pilot reported the pilot deviated from the local Obstacle Departure Procedure.