Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20; Flight Crew Total 2500; Flight Crew Type 2000
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure; Workload
ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Procedure; Airspace Structure; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
I departed heading to John Wayne Airport (SNA). Prior to departure; I contacted Ground Control to arrange for an ATC flight following to John Wayne Airport. I was issued a squawk by Ground Control and were told to contact SoCal Approach at after departure.I departed and established two-way communication with the SoCal Departure. I was acknowledged by the ATC controller and we were told by him to correct our squawk. I found our squawk to be correct as assigned therefore I simply recycled the transponder. The controller appeared to be very busy and was rushed to accommodate not only the incoming and outgoing VFR aircrafts; but also aircraft requesting IFR approaches at the time.The busy controller never advised me to contact the next frequency nor did he ever advised me to stay clear from Class C airspace. If he did he must have been stepped on by other busy transmissions as I never heard any instructions from him. As such; and since I had established two way communication with the ATC; and since I did not get any instructions from him not to enter Class C; we proceeded on course to our destination; John Wayne Airport.However; since I did not get a hand off where I usually get such hand offs; I became uncomfortable and attempted to get the ATC controller attention by performing two 'radio checks'. Each time the busy controller ignored me and did not reply. At that point I decided to contact John Wayne Airport Tower directly. I explained to the Tower that I was on flight following with the ATC; but unable to get the controller's attention. John Wayne Tower did not comment at all and routinely accommodated me to land.Upon landing the SNA Ground Control advised me to contact a supervisor regarding a pilot 'violation'!Few minutes later I called A number and spoke with an FAA employee who did not identify himself. He appeared to be upset and accused me of entering John Wayne Class C Airspace 'without talking to anyone'!! It was obvious that the gentleman was totally clueless and unaware of the following facts: I had obtained ATC flight following for a VFR flight from to John Wayne Airport directly from Ground before even getting airborne. I established two way communications with the ATC after departure and after being released by Tower; and when I entered John Wanye Class C Airspace I was utilizing ATC flight following! And; The ATC controller's apparent busy and overwhelming work load.I calmly and politely explained the above facts to the unidentified FAA employee on the phone. His attitude changed somewhat as he stated he will have the above information checked out. He added I will have no violations if FAA verifies the above facts. He then demanded my phone number and the pilot certificate number which I provided to him right away.At the end he added that the verification process has to be done by another 'team' and not him. He will refer all the information to the other team who will contact me. I requested that he preserves all [departure] Airport; John Wayne Airport; and enroute ATC Radar and communication tapes and any other evidence regarding the flight and the alleged incident whatsoever available to him.I explained to him that I will need these evidence should this matter escalates to a point that I will have to further explain or defend myself. He indicated that had 'already' done so.After finishing the phone call with the FAA employee; I remain puzzled that if the gentleman had indeed examined and preserved the radar and communication tapes; why was he so clueless as to the true facts of the alleged incident and why he accused me of entering into the Class C Airspace 'without talking to anyone'?It is clear the overwhelmed and busy ATC controller dropped the ball and failed to timely communicate with me or to provide me with further instructions. In absence of clear instructions such as 'stay outside of Class C airspace' my obligation as a pilot was to establish a two-way communication with the ATC before entering Class C airspace which I did.There was no violations on my part. After all I exercised due caution by taking my time to request and obtain ATC flight following and a squawk before even leaving the ground in my departure point. I then complied with the rest of the requirements to establish a two-way communication with the ATC upon getting airborne. If the controller was busy why was I not given an instruction to stay clear from SNA Class C airspace until he catches up with his work load and get back to me? Why even I have to be placed in a position by ATC failure to defend myself and why I was falsely accused by the unidentified FAA employee of entering the Class C airspace 'without talking to someone'?As pilot and a flight instructor my aim has always been to fully comply with all FAA regulations and to promote safety at all times. However; even the most experienced pilots can make a mistake and I am no exception. If I do make a mistake; I will be the first to fully acknowledge and to fully take responsibility for it. This was not the case! I did not make a mistake rather I was set up for this incident through the failure of the system that is designed to prevent and avoid exactly this type of situations; that is VFR flight following to help and assist pilots to utilize and to avoid air space violations.
General aviation pilot reported they may have entered Class C airspace without clearance.