Aerobatic practicing AA5 inadvertently penetrates hou class B airspace.

Attributes
ACN	500700
Time
Date	200102
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hou.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl single value : 5500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : i90.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cheetah, Tiger, Traveler
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 68 flight time total : 709
ASRS Report	500700
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : exited penetrated airspace flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airspace Structure Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was practicing chandelles, lazy 8's, steep turns, etc, and I drifted into houston class B airspace. I started my flight by flying from spx to the southeast to get out from under class B airspace and then climbed to 5500 ft MSL to get above the few clouds that were out there and began my practice (bases 3000 ft MSL, tops 4500 ft). I was about 25-28 mi DME from hobby. I was monitoring 134.45 and looking out for traffic as I practiced. Since it was night, it was a little hard to keep track of my ground track. While practicing, I would get closer to class B airspace and then turn around and fly back outbound to get further away. Unfortunately, one time I drifted into class B airspace. I looked down to see where I was and I realized I had gone too far. The DME showed 18.2 from hobby (20 NM is class B). I quickly turned and exited the airspace and descended to a lower altitude. I didn't hear anything about this from approach while I was monitoring the frequency. I'm sure they knew about my indiscretion, but nobody was in the area, so I guess it didn't matter to them. I didn't put anyone in danger, but I should have paid closer attention to my ground track. It was a rookie mistake and I should know better. I can promise you this -- it won't happen again!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AEROBATIC PRACTICING AA5 INADVERTENTLY PENETRATES HOU CLASS B AIRSPACE.

Narrative: I WAS PRACTICING CHANDELLES, LAZY 8'S, STEEP TURNS, ETC, AND I DRIFTED INTO HOUSTON CLASS B AIRSPACE. I STARTED MY FLT BY FLYING FROM SPX TO THE SE TO GET OUT FROM UNDER CLASS B AIRSPACE AND THEN CLBED TO 5500 FT MSL TO GET ABOVE THE FEW CLOUDS THAT WERE OUT THERE AND BEGAN MY PRACTICE (BASES 3000 FT MSL, TOPS 4500 FT). I WAS ABOUT 25-28 MI DME FROM HOBBY. I WAS MONITORING 134.45 AND LOOKING OUT FOR TFC AS I PRACTICED. SINCE IT WAS NIGHT, IT WAS A LITTLE HARD TO KEEP TRACK OF MY GND TRACK. WHILE PRACTICING, I WOULD GET CLOSER TO CLASS B AIRSPACE AND THEN TURN AROUND AND FLY BACK OUTBOUND TO GET FURTHER AWAY. UNFORTUNATELY, ONE TIME I DRIFTED INTO CLASS B AIRSPACE. I LOOKED DOWN TO SEE WHERE I WAS AND I REALIZED I HAD GONE TOO FAR. THE DME SHOWED 18.2 FROM HOBBY (20 NM IS CLASS B). I QUICKLY TURNED AND EXITED THE AIRSPACE AND DSNDED TO A LOWER ALT. I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT THIS FROM APCH WHILE I WAS MONITORING THE FREQ. I'M SURE THEY KNEW ABOUT MY INDISCRETION, BUT NOBODY WAS IN THE AREA, SO I GUESS IT DIDN'T MATTER TO THEM. I DIDN'T PUT ANYONE IN DANGER, BUT I SHOULD HAVE PAID CLOSER ATTN TO MY GND TRACK. IT WAS A ROOKIE MISTAKE AND I SHOULD KNOW BETTER. I CAN PROMISE YOU THIS -- IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN!

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.