Pilot of a C172 inadvertently entered class B airspace during a VFR climb from a nearby airport.

Attributes
ACN	438870
Time
Date	199906
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : sax.vor
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phl.tracon tower : pit.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : vacating altitude
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 18 flight time total : 1420 flight time type : 275
ASRS Report	438870
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departed mmu airport, runway 23. Cleared for a left downwind departure, course of 020 degrees. After extending downwind leg to clear traffic, continued climb to get above clouds (3000 ft) and turbulence. After realizing ground speed was not very great, checked edge of class B on map. Found I was inside class B by a few mi still and climbing through 4000 ft. Class B at this point is 3000-7000 ft. Stopped climb and descended to 3000 ft. I have departed the same in the past without problems. I believe that due to the extension of the downwind before turning on course, along with the low ground speed caused the error.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF A C172 INADVERTENTLY ENTERED CLASS B AIRSPACE DURING A VFR CLB FROM A NEARBY ARPT.

Narrative: DEPARTED MMU ARPT, RWY 23. CLRED FOR A L DOWNWIND DEP, COURSE OF 020 DEGS. AFTER EXTENDING DOWNWIND LEG TO CLR TFC, CONTINUED CLB TO GET ABOVE CLOUDS (3000 FT) AND TURB. AFTER REALIZING GND SPD WAS NOT VERY GREAT, CHKED EDGE OF CLASS B ON MAP. FOUND I WAS INSIDE CLASS B BY A FEW MI STILL AND CLBING THROUGH 4000 FT. CLASS B AT THIS POINT IS 3000-7000 FT. STOPPED CLB AND DSNDED TO 3000 FT. I HAVE DEPARTED THE SAME IN THE PAST WITHOUT PROBS. I BELIEVE THAT DUE TO THE EXTENSION OF THE DOWNWIND BEFORE TURNING ON COURSE, ALONG WITH THE LOW GND SPD CAUSED THE ERROR.

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.