Small Transport
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 32; Flight Crew Total 2459; Flight Crew Type 1950
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Exited Penetrated Airspace; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Airport; Airspace Structure; Procedure; Human Factors
I departed from 16L at VNY and requested a straight out 'to Encino Reservoir' departure with a jet departing on 16R. Tower indicated that I should turn 15 degrees to the right; upon which I informed VNY tower that I was trying to go east to Griffith Observatory for an easterly VFR path. VNY tower told me to stay 'west of departure path'; but it was confusing to me for a jet departing on the right runway I would expect them to turn to 210 degrees for the CANOGA1. The tower then told me stop my climb at 1700 feet and turn towards Griffith Park observatory. I had the traffic showing on TIS B; so I kept as far south as possible with the rising terrain and attempted to contact TRACON for clearance into Class C. By the time I reached TRACON; they restricted my climb and I was caught between rising terrain and the Class [C] of Burbank; so I kept as far south as possible maintaining clearance from terrain and complying with altitude restrictions. TRACON indicated that I had violated Burbank airspace; but I had been restricted from climbing to a safe altitude which would have allowed me to avoid their Class D airspace due to terrain.
A VFR aircraft departing VNY was issued instructions which confused the pilot. ATC restricted their climb and in order to avoid terrain they entered BUR airport's Class C airspace without approval.