UNAUTHORIZED PENETRATION OF AIRSPACE. PROX OF TCA.

Narrative

DEPARTED SMO INTENDING TO FLY COAST LINE TO SBA. AFTER DEP REALIZED COURSE DIRECTLY INTO SUN (SETTING); DEVIATING TO GO DIRECT SBA OVER MOUNTAINS NW. CLBING ON AUTOPLT WITH VIGILANCE OUTSIDE (NORMAL RTE SMO DIRECT FIL; CLB TO APPROX 5000 FT AT 15 MI - (EDGE OF TCA) AND CLR TCA IN THAT SECTOR.) CHKING LORAN FOR DISTANCE - WAITED FOR IT TO CYCLE THROUGH ALERTS OF SJC (DEST) ARSA; SBA ARSA; BUR ARSA AND FINALLY LAX SUDDENLY SAW LAX TCA 'IN' 17 1/2 MI. I WAS SURPRISED I WAS IN AS RECALLED 15 MI WOULD CLR -(USING LAX SECTIONAL INSERT FOR NAV) NOTICED THEN THAT FOR THE SECTOR I WAS IN AND ALT; FLOOR WAS 4000 FT. THE FLOOR IN THAT AREA IS UNSAFE FOR TERRAIN CLRNC AND LIGHT - MODERATE TURB FROM NW WIND OVER MOUNTAINS - SINCE ALREADY OVER THE MOUNTAINS AND NEAR EDGE OF TCA CONTINUED AND CLRED AT APPROX 21 MI. NOTICED SECTOR OBSTRUCTION MAX ALT FOR SECTION 52 PRINTED R NEXT TO 125/40 TCA ALTS. CAUSES: POOR PREFLT PLANNING - PLTDEV FROM PLTS NORMAL PROC - PLT TCA LOCATION ALT FLOOR - NOT APPROPRIATE FOR TERRAIN CLRNC - TCA PLANNER SECTIONAL MARKING - MILEAGE INDICATORS ON TCA CHART WOULD BE HELPFUL.