PA28 pilot entered dca class B airspace without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	497010
Time
Date	200101
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : anp.airport
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl single value : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dca.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : vacating altitude
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 2000 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	497010
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
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 controller : issued alert flight crew : became reoriented
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departed anp airport VFR. 1 mi west of anp, called washington approach on 124.2. Requested VFR flight following direct to leesburg, va (jyo) at 4500 ft VFR. After squawk code was given, I was asked altitude. I said 1900 ft climbing to 4500 ft. ATC said 'no contact' yet but would let me know. About 2 mins later, ATC asked if I was familiar with the area. I answered 'affirmative.' he then told me I was radar contact, showing 3000 ft and climbing and now 500 ft into the class B airspace. (Class B airspace began at 2500 ft.) I apologized and he cleared me into class B and directed me to continue climb to 4500 ft. Handoff to iad was uneventful. This incident may not have happened if I had paid closer attention. I was so 'used' to getting a squawk code, and talking to ATC that I assumed I was cleared into class B airspace even without the correct phraseology. Also, ATC never said 'remain clear of class B' or never told me to hold altitude when I told them I was climbing and passing 1900 ft for 4500 ft. Before frequency change, I apologized again and the controller replied with 'no problem, have a good flight.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 PLT ENTERED DCA CLASS B AIRSPACE WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: DEPARTED ANP ARPT VFR. 1 MI W OF ANP, CALLED WASHINGTON APCH ON 124.2. REQUESTED VFR FLT FOLLOWING DIRECT TO LEESBURG, VA (JYO) AT 4500 FT VFR. AFTER SQUAWK CODE WAS GIVEN, I WAS ASKED ALT. I SAID 1900 FT CLBING TO 4500 FT. ATC SAID 'NO CONTACT' YET BUT WOULD LET ME KNOW. ABOUT 2 MINS LATER, ATC ASKED IF I WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA. I ANSWERED 'AFFIRMATIVE.' HE THEN TOLD ME I WAS RADAR CONTACT, SHOWING 3000 FT AND CLBING AND NOW 500 FT INTO THE CLASS B AIRSPACE. (CLASS B AIRSPACE BEGAN AT 2500 FT.) I APOLOGIZED AND HE CLRED ME INTO CLASS B AND DIRECTED ME TO CONTINUE CLB TO 4500 FT. HDOF TO IAD WAS UNEVENTFUL. THIS INCIDENT MAY NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF I HAD PAID CLOSER ATTN. I WAS SO 'USED' TO GETTING A SQUAWK CODE, AND TALKING TO ATC THAT I ASSUMED I WAS CLRED INTO CLASS B AIRSPACE EVEN WITHOUT THE CORRECT PHRASEOLOGY. ALSO, ATC NEVER SAID 'REMAIN CLR OF CLASS B' OR NEVER TOLD ME TO HOLD ALT WHEN I TOLD THEM I WAS CLBING AND PASSING 1900 FT FOR 4500 FT. BEFORE FREQ CHANGE, I APOLOGIZED AGAIN AND THE CTLR REPLIED WITH 'NO PROB, HAVE A GOOD FLT.'

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.