A BE36 instructor and student reported that L30 would not allow them in the class B airspace for lan...

Narrative:

While on cross country to las was informed by la center while on flight following that a hand off to las approach was not possible. After squawking VFR; we contacted las approach to request landing at las. After four or more attempts to get a hold of las approach; we circled outside the airspace on the south east side of the las class B airspace (about 30 nm south-southeast). When contact was made with approach; controller informed us that a VFR landing was not possible due to saturation and informed us that it would be at least a couple of hours before we could enter. We elected to try the alternate airport near our location; hnd. The controller told us to remain clear of the las class B airspace. We descended to 5;000 ft outside the lateral limits of the class B then proceed underneath it. While flying north-northwest bound; we descended to 4;500 ft to enter hnd airspace from the east. About 5-8 miles east-southeast of the airspace and 3-4 miles south of dutchman pass; controller issued a request for us to turn westbound at that time. The airport was not in sight and due west was a mountain/line of mountainous terrain that was 500 ft or so higher than our altitude (5;000 ft MSL was where the terrain top was located.) above and just beyond the terrain; the las class B shelf lowers to 5;000 ft from 6;000 ft. Therefore a climb over the terrain would have been very difficult to initiate without also entering the class B airspace. On the east side of the mountain ridge; the controller switched us to tower (hnd) when we did not have the airport in sight. The hnd tower controller issued us instructions that were partially readable; due to terrain in between our aircraft and the airport. At that point; we elected to depart the area to the south and divert to another airport. While operating 4;500-5;000 ft MSL; we departed southbound; awaiting airspace limitations (las class B above) to climb higher. We had a DME equipped airplane whose DME became unavailable when descending below mountain altitude and did not become available until after climb southbound.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BE36 Instructor and Student reported that L30 would not allow them in the Class B airspace for landing at LAS and they could not climb and stay out of Class B to land at HND so they departed the area.

Narrative: While on cross country to LAS was informed by LA Center while on flight following that a hand off to LAS Approach was not possible. After squawking VFR; we contacted LAS Approach to request landing at LAS. After four or more attempts to get a hold of LAS Approach; we circled outside the airspace on the south east side of the LAS Class B airspace (about 30 nm south-southeast). When contact was made with Approach; Controller informed us that a VFR landing was not possible due to saturation and informed us that it would be at least a couple of hours before we could enter. We elected to try the alternate airport near our location; HND. The Controller told us to remain clear of the LAS Class B airspace. We descended to 5;000 FT outside the lateral limits of the Class B then proceed underneath it. While flying north-northwest bound; we descended to 4;500 FT to enter HND airspace from the east. About 5-8 miles east-southeast of the airspace and 3-4 miles south of Dutchman Pass; Controller issued a request for us to turn westbound at that time. The airport was not in sight and due west was a mountain/line of mountainous terrain that was 500 FT or so higher than our altitude (5;000 FT MSL was where the terrain top was located.) Above and just beyond the terrain; the LAS Class B shelf lowers to 5;000 FT from 6;000 FT. Therefore a climb over the terrain would have been very difficult to initiate without also entering the Class B airspace. On the east side of the mountain ridge; the Controller switched us to Tower (HND) when we did not have the airport in sight. The HND Tower Controller issued us instructions that were partially readable; due to terrain in between our aircraft and the airport. At that point; we elected to depart the area to the south and divert to another airport. While operating 4;500-5;000 FT MSL; we departed southbound; awaiting airspace limitations (LAS Class B above) to climb higher. We had a DME equipped airplane whose DME became unavailable when descending below mountain altitude and did not become available until after climb southbound.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	919231
Time
Date	201011
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	LAS.Airport
State Reference	NV
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Bonanza 36
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Descent
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Function	Instructor
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100 Flight Crew Total 700 Flight Crew Type 270
Person 2
Function	Trainee
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 47.5 Flight Crew Total 200 Flight Crew Type 73.9
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown

A BE36 instructor and student reported that L30 would not allow them in the class B airspace for landing at las and they could not climb and stay out of class B to land at hnd so they departed the area.