Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 10; Flight Crew Total 1521; Flight Crew Type 919
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Exited Penetrated Airspace
Human Factors
This was my first trip into FMY. Departing KFMY; Tower cleared me for takeoff on Runway 23; on course; and I heard 'cleared through the Charlie'. I read back the takeoff clearance and ended with 'cleared through the Charlie'. Apparently; this was not correct. During climb out I turned on course after reaching 500 feet MSL and continued my climb on a heading of about 340 degrees. At approximately 1;500 MSL; Tower called me for entering the Class Charlie and told me to descend immediately below 1;200 feet MSL. I complied immediately with a descent to 1;000 feet MSL. After clearing the Class D airspace for FMY; Tower advised 'frequency change approved'.My mistake for entering the Class C at 1;200 feet MSL; but I heard and read back what I thought was a clearance through the Class C. Looking at the chart at the time of this event; I failed to recognize that I had not exited the Class D outside of the Class C overlap. Another 1.5 NM on my 340-350 degree heading would have avoided the intrusion.
C182 pilot reported entering Charlie airspace without clearance due to a misunderstanding with ATC.