<< >> NASA ASRS Report 424829, January 1999

A BE76 returning to sql entered sfo class B airspace after failing to maintain pilotage visual landmarks and navigation equipment.

Attributes
ACN	424829
Time
Date	199901
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sfo airport : sql
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 6 flight time total : 455 flight time type : 40
ASRS Report	424829
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flight originated at sql, landed at haf and returned towards sql. Sql radio was busy, so I made one holding turn over crystal springs reservoir before establishing 2-WAY communication. I did not realize that I finished the turn nebound and not eastbound. I was flying north of san mateo bridge which I mistook for dumbarton bridge, both have a similar raised section. The haze/sun reflections kept other prominent visual points (including sfo) invisible. The sql controller asked me to identify and said that I have 'busted class B.' I then realized my mistake and turned towards sql with uneventful landing. The VFR turn with early rollout to a mistaken bridge identify was the main cause. This could be avoided by: maintaining compass heading, keeping VOR/DME on. After the turn I have followed a wrong direction, believing that visible landmarks verify my intended flight path.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BE76 RETURNING TO SQL ENTERED SFO CLASS B AIRSPACE AFTER FAILING TO MAINTAIN PILOTAGE VISUAL LANDMARKS AND NAV EQUIP.

Narrative: FLT ORIGINATED AT SQL, LANDED AT HAF AND RETURNED TOWARDS SQL. SQL RADIO WAS BUSY, SO I MADE ONE HOLDING TURN OVER CRYSTAL SPRINGS RESERVOIR BEFORE ESTABLISHING 2-WAY COM. I DID NOT REALIZE THAT I FINISHED THE TURN NEBOUND AND NOT EBOUND. I WAS FLYING N OF SAN MATEO BRIDGE WHICH I MISTOOK FOR DUMBARTON BRIDGE, BOTH HAVE A SIMILAR RAISED SECTION. THE HAZE/SUN REFLECTIONS KEPT OTHER PROMINENT VISUAL POINTS (INCLUDING SFO) INVISIBLE. THE SQL CTLR ASKED ME TO IDENT AND SAID THAT I HAVE 'BUSTED CLASS B.' I THEN REALIZED MY MISTAKE AND TURNED TOWARDS SQL WITH UNEVENTFUL LNDG. THE VFR TURN WITH EARLY ROLLOUT TO A MISTAKEN BRIDGE IDENT WAS THE MAIN CAUSE. THIS COULD BE AVOIDED BY: MAINTAINING COMPASS HEADING, KEEPING VOR/DME ON. AFTER THE TURN I HAVE FOLLOWED A WRONG DIRECTION, BELIEVING THAT VISIBLE LANDMARKS VERIFY MY INTENDED FLT PATH.

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.