A cessna 172 pilot entered mem class B airspace without a clearance.

Attributes
ACN	438080
Time
Date	199905
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : olv.airport
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl single value : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mem.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 280 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	438080
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After departing olive branch under class B, I contacted memphis approach, was given a transponder code, and began a northeasterly climbing departure. The floor on that ring was 3000 ft. The floor on the outside ring was 5000 ft which I was very close to. As I climbed to 3500 ft, the controller told me to descend to 3000 ft and fly heading 090 degrees. There was traffic at 4000 ft ahead of me. I thought it was a traffic avoidance directive and didn't realize that I may have blown through the floor. At that point, no clearance was issued and I was not directed to remain clear of class B airspace. Nothing was said by the controller regarding this event. I was cleared and continued en route.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CESSNA 172 PLT ENTERED MEM CLASS B AIRSPACE WITHOUT A CLRNC.

Narrative: AFTER DEPARTING OLIVE BRANCH UNDER CLASS B, I CONTACTED MEMPHIS APCH, WAS GIVEN A XPONDER CODE, AND BEGAN A NORTHEASTERLY CLBING DEP. THE FLOOR ON THAT RING WAS 3000 FT. THE FLOOR ON THE OUTSIDE RING WAS 5000 FT WHICH I WAS VERY CLOSE TO. AS I CLBED TO 3500 FT, THE CTLR TOLD ME TO DSND TO 3000 FT AND FLY HDG 090 DEGS. THERE WAS TFC AT 4000 FT AHEAD OF ME. I THOUGHT IT WAS A TFC AVOIDANCE DIRECTIVE AND DIDN'T REALIZE THAT I MAY HAVE BLOWN THROUGH THE FLOOR. AT THAT POINT, NO CLRNC WAS ISSUED AND I WAS NOT DIRECTED TO REMAIN CLR OF CLASS B AIRSPACE. NOTHING WAS SAID BY THE CTLR REGARDING THIS EVENT. I WAS CLRED AND CONTINUED ENRTE.

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.