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An small aircraft pilot trying to circumnav class B airspace, miscalculated his route of flight violating the airspace he was trying to avoid.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 536297 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200201 |
| Day | Thu |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : phx.airport |
| State Reference | AZ |
| Altitude | msl single value : 4000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : phx.tower |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Navigation In Use | other |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : private |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 1500 flight time type : 1100 |
| ASRS Report | 536297 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | airspace violation : entry non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : detected after the fact |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Airspace Structure Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
Eastbound, south of western most extent of phx class B airspace, descending to fly below 4000 ft floor of class B airspace, en route to chd airport. There is a mountain range you have to cross, then descend very rapidly to 4000 ft or less -- boundary of class B sector is defined by gila river, difficult to see distinctly even under half moon. Mountain pretty distinct, but to be conservative at night, I delayed starting my descent. Unsure of exactly where the river was, I turned south to try to stay out of class B airspace. Noticed probably the river to my right, which meant I was probably in class B airspace at about 4500 ft. I continued my descent to 3500 ft and turned toward chandler. Caused by defining class B boundary by river, not distinct at night, and my belief I could identify the river, which I couldn't. Contributing factor was making boundary so close to the mountain range. Solution is to pick a different route next time.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN SMA PLT TRYING TO CIRCUMNAV CLASS B AIRSPACE, MISCALCULATED HIS RTE OF FLT VIOLATING THE AIRSPACE HE WAS TRYING TO AVOID.
Narrative: EBOUND, S OF WESTERN MOST EXTENT OF PHX CLASS B AIRSPACE, DSNDING TO FLY BELOW 4000 FT FLOOR OF CLASS B AIRSPACE, ENRTE TO CHD ARPT. THERE IS A MOUNTAIN RANGE YOU HAVE TO CROSS, THEN DSND VERY RAPIDLY TO 4000 FT OR LESS -- BOUNDARY OF CLASS B SECTOR IS DEFINED BY GILA RIVER, DIFFICULT TO SEE DISTINCTLY EVEN UNDER HALF MOON. MOUNTAIN PRETTY DISTINCT, BUT TO BE CONSERVATIVE AT NIGHT, I DELAYED STARTING MY DSCNT. UNSURE OF EXACTLY WHERE THE RIVER WAS, I TURNED S TO TRY TO STAY OUT OF CLASS B AIRSPACE. NOTICED PROBABLY THE RIVER TO MY R, WHICH MEANT I WAS PROBABLY IN CLASS B AIRSPACE AT ABOUT 4500 FT. I CONTINUED MY DSCNT TO 3500 FT AND TURNED TOWARD CHANDLER. CAUSED BY DEFINING CLASS B BOUNDARY BY RIVER, NOT DISTINCT AT NIGHT, AND MY BELIEF I COULD IDENT THE RIVER, WHICH I COULDN'T. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS MAKING BOUNDARY SO CLOSE TO THE MOUNTAIN RANGE. SOLUTION IS TO PICK A DIFFERENT RTE NEXT TIME.
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.