Unauthorized penetration of class B airspace.

Attributes
ACN	275406
Time
Date	199406
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bwi
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1600 msl bound upper : 1600
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bwi tower : dfw
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 1300 flight time type : 20
ASRS Report	275406
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was on my way to do a routine flying/traffic reporting flight. As I was cleared into the baltimore class B airspace, the controller made sure to say to stay out of the class B surface area (5 NM ring) around bwi as the controllers do every day. A few mins later, my DME showed 5 NM, so I immediately went the opposite way. The controller said that I was 3 mi away and to depart the airspace, which of course, I did. Apparently, according to him, I had come in the surface area even though my DME showed 5 NM out. When I double-checked with outside references a second later, I realized I was quite close to the airport which meant I probably did enter. Why and how did this happen? I am a very alert and conscientious pilot, well, low visibilities prevailed (about 3-4 mi in haze) which made it difficult to see. Also, since I was also traffic reporting, I got carried away and neglected to make plting my first priority! That hasn't happened again. Also if you are VFR, you shouldn't depend solely on instruments, you should verify and keep track of your position visually. I hope this will help future pilots to always keep aware of their position at all times.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNAUTH PENETRATION OF CLASS B AIRSPACE.

Narrative: I WAS ON MY WAY TO DO A ROUTINE FLYING/TFC RPTING FLT. AS I WAS CLRED INTO THE BALTIMORE CLASS B AIRSPACE, THE CTLR MADE SURE TO SAY TO STAY OUT OF THE CLASS B SURFACE AREA (5 NM RING) AROUND BWI AS THE CTLRS DO EVERY DAY. A FEW MINS LATER, MY DME SHOWED 5 NM, SO I IMMEDIATELY WENT THE OPPOSITE WAY. THE CTLR SAID THAT I WAS 3 MI AWAY AND TO DEPART THE AIRSPACE, WHICH OF COURSE, I DID. APPARENTLY, ACCORDING TO HIM, I HAD COME IN THE SURFACE AREA EVEN THOUGH MY DME SHOWED 5 NM OUT. WHEN I DOUBLE-CHKED WITH OUTSIDE REFS A SECOND LATER, I REALIZED I WAS QUITE CLOSE TO THE ARPT WHICH MEANT I PROBABLY DID ENTER. WHY AND HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? I AM A VERY ALERT AND CONSCIENTIOUS PLT, WELL, LOW VISIBILITIES PREVAILED (ABOUT 3-4 MI IN HAZE) WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE. ALSO, SINCE I WAS ALSO TFC RPTING, I GOT CARRIED AWAY AND NEGLECTED TO MAKE PLTING MY FIRST PRIORITY! THAT HASN'T HAPPENED AGAIN. ALSO IF YOU ARE VFR, YOU SHOULDN'T DEPEND SOLELY ON INSTS, YOU SHOULD VERIFY AND KEEP TRACK OF YOUR POS VISUALLY. I HOPE THIS WILL HELP FUTURE PLTS TO ALWAYS KEEP AWARE OF THEIR POS AT ALL TIMES.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.