An M20T penetrated class B airspace without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	715221
Time
Date	200610
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : sli.vortac
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sct.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	M-20 Series Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 1000 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	715221
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I was receiving flight following from socal approach while climbing from sna toward vgt. The controller asked my requested altitude; to which I replied I would stay at 9500 ft to avoid conflicts with lax descent over ontario. He stated I could advise the next sector and handed me off; who asked again; and when I stated 11500 ft; said 'climb to 11500 approved.' as I was climbing through 9800 ft; I realized I might be in class B airspace and initiated an immediate and rapid descent to 9000 ft. At that point; I checked my GPS and charts and confirmed I had entered class B without a clearance. I have done this many times and know that I should not climb above 9500 ft until after leaving the lax corridor. Usually however; my route does not take me under class B airspace. On this day; I had received an IFR clearance to on top; which took me further north than usual; so that when I naved direct to vgt the route went through class B. I did not think to check my position 'viz' the class B until too late. This incident taught me to always know my position; especially relative to restr or controled airspace and to think proactively when changing altitude or headings. I must also not infer that a VFR climb approval signifies class B clearance -- clearly it does not!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN M20T PENETRATED CLASS B AIRSPACE WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: I WAS RECEIVING FLT FOLLOWING FROM SOCAL APCH WHILE CLBING FROM SNA TOWARD VGT. THE CTLR ASKED MY REQUESTED ALT; TO WHICH I REPLIED I WOULD STAY AT 9500 FT TO AVOID CONFLICTS WITH LAX DSCNT OVER ONTARIO. HE STATED I COULD ADVISE THE NEXT SECTOR AND HANDED ME OFF; WHO ASKED AGAIN; AND WHEN I STATED 11500 FT; SAID 'CLB TO 11500 APPROVED.' AS I WAS CLBING THROUGH 9800 FT; I REALIZED I MIGHT BE IN CLASS B AIRSPACE AND INITIATED AN IMMEDIATE AND RAPID DSCNT TO 9000 FT. AT THAT POINT; I CHKED MY GPS AND CHARTS AND CONFIRMED I HAD ENTERED CLASS B WITHOUT A CLRNC. I HAVE DONE THIS MANY TIMES AND KNOW THAT I SHOULD NOT CLB ABOVE 9500 FT UNTIL AFTER LEAVING THE LAX CORRIDOR. USUALLY HOWEVER; MY RTE DOES NOT TAKE ME UNDER CLASS B AIRSPACE. ON THIS DAY; I HAD RECEIVED AN IFR CLRNC TO ON TOP; WHICH TOOK ME FURTHER N THAN USUAL; SO THAT WHEN I NAVED DIRECT TO VGT THE RTE WENT THROUGH CLASS B. I DID NOT THINK TO CHK MY POS 'VIZ' THE CLASS B UNTIL TOO LATE. THIS INCIDENT TAUGHT ME TO ALWAYS KNOW MY POS; ESPECIALLY RELATIVE TO RESTR OR CTLED AIRSPACE AND TO THINK PROACTIVELY WHEN CHANGING ALT OR HDGS. I MUST ALSO NOT INFER THAT A VFR CLB APPROVAL SIGNIFIES CLASS B CLRNC -- CLRLY IT DOES NOT!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.