An experienced pilot, flying in formation with another ercoupe at haf, ca, experienced an near midair collision so close that he experienced mental anguish which caused him to enter sfo's class B airspace.

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Attributes
ACN	471136
Time
Date	200004
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sfo.airport
State Reference	CA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Aircoupe A2
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Aircoupe A2
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 2750 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	471136
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry conflict : airborne critical conflict : nmac non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 15 vertical : 15
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We (2 ercoupe's) had departed haf airport at approximately XA15. We were in cruise flight at approximately 1700 ft MSL, about 12-15 mi nnw of haf, below the floor of the class B airspace, when bay approach called me with a 'traffic alert 4 O'clock.' approximately 5-8 seconds later, a light colored V35 bonanza flashed by at 3 O'clock, very close -- I estimate between 15-20 ft. I do not know if he saw me, because he continued straight ahead. A few mins passed, and then what had just happened began to affect me. My mind was conjuring up all sorts of nightmarish scenarios, when bay approach called me and told me that I had climbed through the floor of the class B airspace without clearance (the floor in that area is 3000 ft). I was at 3700 ft when I got the call. He immediately cleared me to climb through the class B airspace, and verbally scolded me for entering without clearance. We canceled flight following shortly thereafter, after clearing the class B airspace.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN EXPERIENCED PLT, FLYING IN FORMATION WITH ANOTHER ERCOUPE AT HAF, CA, EXPERIENCED AN NMAC SO CLOSE THAT HE EXPERIENCED MENTAL ANGUISH WHICH CAUSED HIM TO ENTER SFO'S CLASS B AIRSPACE.

Narrative: WE (2 ERCOUPE'S) HAD DEPARTED HAF ARPT AT APPROX XA15. WE WERE IN CRUISE FLT AT APPROX 1700 FT MSL, ABOUT 12-15 MI NNW OF HAF, BELOW THE FLOOR OF THE CLASS B AIRSPACE, WHEN BAY APCH CALLED ME WITH A 'TFC ALERT 4 O'CLOCK.' APPROX 5-8 SECONDS LATER, A LIGHT COLORED V35 BONANZA FLASHED BY AT 3 O'CLOCK, VERY CLOSE -- I ESTIMATE BTWN 15-20 FT. I DO NOT KNOW IF HE SAW ME, BECAUSE HE CONTINUED STRAIGHT AHEAD. A FEW MINS PASSED, AND THEN WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED BEGAN TO AFFECT ME. MY MIND WAS CONJURING UP ALL SORTS OF NIGHTMARISH SCENARIOS, WHEN BAY APCH CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT I HAD CLBED THROUGH THE FLOOR OF THE CLASS B AIRSPACE WITHOUT CLRNC (THE FLOOR IN THAT AREA IS 3000 FT). I WAS AT 3700 FT WHEN I GOT THE CALL. HE IMMEDIATELY CLRED ME TO CLB THROUGH THE CLASS B AIRSPACE, AND VERBALLY SCOLDED ME FOR ENTERING WITHOUT CLRNC. WE CANCELED FLT FOLLOWING SHORTLY THEREAFTER, AFTER CLRING 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.