Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Retractable Gear
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30; Flight Crew Total 1500; Flight Crew Type 700
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
Airspace Violation All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory
Airspace Structure; Procedure
I was told by SMO tower that my flight of two violated the SMO airspace by approximately one mile and that he had to deviate an aircraft. According to my Garmin 430 and my GRT EFIS I was close but clear of their airspace. I have both TIS and ADSB traffic with alerts and could see all the traffic but none ever were an issue or gave me a traffic alert.I could see traffic in the area however at no time were any of them an issue according to what my displays were showing. At one point of the flight where I noticed that an area of their airspace extended out from the normal circle I deviated the flight to the north to be sure to be well clear of the airspace. I believe that the radar that located me inside the airspace was inaccurate. I will admit however that it would have been prudent for me to contact the tower even for flights near their airspace and in the future will do so.
I have a Garmin 496 on board. I was on the left of my lead aircraft and did not see us inside SMO Airspace according to my 496 GPS.
A flight of two aircraft at 2;000 feet were told after landing at their destination they had violated SMO airspace by 1 mile. Both aircraft had Garmin GPS equipment and saw themselves remaining outside SMO airspace.