C152 pilot had S56 class B airspace incursion.

Attributes
ACN	452540
Time
Date	199910
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : slc.airport
State Reference	UT
Altitude	msl single value : 8300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : s56.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna 152
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 18 flight time total : 295 flight time type : 18
ASRS Report	452540
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

It was the second time ever that I went to slc airport during nighttime. Unintentionally, I got into class B airspace. To be sure of my exact position, I called approach and this is when I realized that I was already in because of my altitude. The visual references that I had in sight did not help me to determine whether I was out or in class B airspace, so I decided to descend about 1000 ft and call slc approach. They told me I had violated an far by entering class B airspace without being cleared.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C152 PLT HAD S56 CLASS B AIRSPACE INCURSION.

Narrative: IT WAS THE SECOND TIME EVER THAT I WENT TO SLC ARPT DURING NIGHTTIME. UNINTENTIONALLY, I GOT INTO CLASS B AIRSPACE. TO BE SURE OF MY EXACT POS, I CALLED APCH AND THIS IS WHEN I REALIZED THAT I WAS ALREADY IN BECAUSE OF MY ALT. THE VISUAL REFS THAT I HAD IN SIGHT DID NOT HELP ME TO DETERMINE WHETHER I WAS OUT OR IN CLASS B AIRSPACE, SO I DECIDED TO DSND ABOUT 1000 FT AND CALL SLC APCH. THEY TOLD ME I HAD VIOLATED AN FAR BY ENTERING CLASS B AIRSPACE WITHOUT BEING CLRED.

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.