Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 15; Flight Crew Total 950; Flight Crew Type 950
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure
ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Staffing
I had filed an IFR flight plan from ZZZ to ZZZ1 and received back an expected route from ATC. I had planned to depart Runway XX; as the wind was calm. The field was initially IFR. I started the engine and entered the expected route into my GPS. By the time I was ready to taxi; the weather had become marginal VFR and aircraft had started using Runway YY. So; I taxied to YY for departure. As I taxied out; I got a radio check from UNICOM.ZZZ is a non-towered airport; so I used the ATC frequency given on the approach plates to contact clearance. This was my usual procedure at this airport. However; after trying many times I could not get a response from anyone on the clearance frequency. Since the field was marginal VFR at that time and weather at my destination was clear; I decided to depart VFR and see if I could get a clearance in the air. Otherwise; I planned to just proceed VFR. There was a low layer of clouds to the west and it was clear to the north. If I could not get a clearance; my plan was to climb to the northeast until I was at an altitude sufficiently above the clouds to the west and then turn west.There is a class C airspace to the west of ZZZ. As I climbed out; I turned to the right to avoid the class C airspace. However; I guess I still had in mind my plan to depart Runway XX and only turned to the right the amount I usually do when departing Runway XX to easily clear the class C airspace. The low layer of clouds to the west prevented me from visually realizing that I had not turned far enough to the right. Another issue; that was a distraction as I climbed out; was my attempt to contact departure to get my clearance or get flight following. The Departure Controller was refusing to talk to any VFR traffic. He finally told all VFR traffic to try again in 30 minutes.After giving up on ATC; I realized from my GPS that I had entered the northeast corner of the class C airspace to the west. I immediately turned to the northeast to exit the airspace. The ADS-B on my GPS did not show any traffic anywhere near me.I clearly did not keep foremost in mind that I was not departing from the runway that I had planned to and the impact of departing VFR instead of IFR at the last minute; because I could not get a clearance. I certainly will be more careful in the future. I will also change my expectations of the usual high level of service from ATC while COVID-19 is in place. The initial reduction in ATC staffing because of reduced flight operations due to COVID-19 has not yet been followed by an increase in staffing as GA operations in this area have increased substantially.
Single pilot reported an airspace deviation occurred while attempting to get an IFR clearance. Pilot was unable to get an IFR clearance due to ATC workload and told to try again in 30 minutes.