Date: 201604
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: MYF.Airport, CA
Flight conditions: VMC
Weather elements / visibility: 10
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Retractable Gear
Operator: Personal
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: VFR
Mission: Personal
Flight phase: Initial Approach
Airspace: Class D MYF
ATC / advisory: TRACON SCT
Reporter organization: Personal
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; Single Pilot
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Private
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Confusion; Distraction
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Contributing factors: Procedure
Primary problem: Procedure

Narrative: VFR Flight to MYF cruise altitude was 10;500. Flight following was obtained. LA Center handed me off to SoCal App cleared me into Class B and vectored me SW (200 degrees) and asked me to stay at 10;500; which kept me a little high. I hadn't heard from SoCal for a bit; so I radioed that 'I had [the weather]' and when they lifted the altitude restriction and cleared me direct to MYF; I descended quickly (1000 ft/min) calculating that I would still be above Gillespie airspace. I incorrectly assumed that SoCal App was going to tell me to contact MYF tower with a frequency. That handoff never came and by the time a radioed SoCal back 'saying I had MYF in sight' it was too late. SoCal App said 'you should already be talking to MYF.' No frequency given. I immediately tried MYF tower on 119.2 (the main freq on my chart) no answer to my call; and albeit late started to turn N away from the field; but I know that I had already descended into their airspace.I tried the second frequency quickly (125.7) and got an immediate response (although for some reason they had me in their system as [one letter off in call sign]) and the controller quickly identified me and directed me over the airport into Left traffic for 28R. Extended downwind and less than stellar landing; a little flustered after hearing the possible pilot deviation and to call tower. Needed a progressive taxi (only 2nd time to MYF and lots of construction). I called the MYF tower and spoke to [name removed] (very polite; new to shift and he would forward my call on up).Contributing factors; etc.1) Waited too long for an expected handoff from SoCal; but I am responsible for the D airspace at MYF.2) Steeper than normal descent into a relatively unfamiliar airport.3) I have been doing a lot of IFR training in the last few months and I think I was used to hearing ATC vectoring me and handing me off to tower. I know that VFR is different and I think I fell into that trap of overdependence. A mistake I will not make again.4) I need to complete my IFR training; and improve my situational awareness.




Synopsis: Small aircraft pilot reported not being handed off to MYF Tower by SCT TRACON. Pilot was VFR and did not avoid delta airspace. Pilot reported he had been under IFR training lately and was expecting a handoff from the TRACON to the Tower.