A private instrument rated pilot entered class B airspace at san without proper clearance.

Attributes
ACN	439895
Time
Date	199906
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sct.tracon
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sct.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 1050
ASRS Report	439895
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I departed myf VFR en route fullerton airport. Shortly after departure, I climbed above the coastal marine layer and lost visual reference to the ground. I was familiar with the various altitudes and locations of the class B airspace. I used my familiarity with the airspace to estimate my location and began a northbound turn. During this time, I made several radio calls to socal for flight following. After completing the northbound turn and using miramar airport as a reference point, I continued my climb to 6500 ft MSL. I was finally able to make contact with socal who directed me to stop my climb at 6000 ft MSL because of an approaching king air. Socal then advised that I had entered the class B airspace where the floor was 4800 ft. In retrospect, I should have leveled off at 4500 ft until I could positively determine I was clear of the class B airspace.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PVT INST RATED PLT ENTERED CLASS B AIRSPACE AT SAN WITHOUT PROPER CLRNC.

Narrative: I DEPARTED MYF VFR ENRTE FULLERTON ARPT. SHORTLY AFTER DEP, I CLBED ABOVE THE COASTAL MARINE LAYER AND LOST VISUAL REF TO THE GND. I WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE VARIOUS ALTS AND LOCATIONS OF THE CLASS B AIRSPACE. I USED MY FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRSPACE TO ESTIMATE MY LOCATION AND BEGAN A NBOUND TURN. DURING THIS TIME, I MADE SEVERAL RADIO CALLS TO SOCAL FOR FLT FOLLOWING. AFTER COMPLETING THE NBOUND TURN AND USING MIRAMAR ARPT AS A REF POINT, I CONTINUED MY CLB TO 6500 FT MSL. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH SOCAL WHO DIRECTED ME TO STOP MY CLB AT 6000 FT MSL BECAUSE OF AN APCHING KING AIR. SOCAL THEN ADVISED THAT I HAD ENTERED THE CLASS B AIRSPACE WHERE THE FLOOR WAS 4800 FT. IN RETROSPECT, I SHOULD HAVE LEVELED OFF AT 4500 FT UNTIL I COULD POSITIVELY DETERMINE I WAS CLR OF THE CLASS B AIRSPACE.

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.