Pilot reported experiencing a class B airspace violation.

Attributes
ACN	1753867
Time
Date	202008
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.TRACON
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft High Wing 1 Eng Fixed Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Commercial
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 65 Flight Crew Total 780 Flight Crew Type 650
Events
Anomaly	Airspace Violation All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Procedural FAR
Miss Distance	Vertical 501

Narrative:

I departed ZZZ and was enroute to ZZZ1 before direct lr at 2;500 to avoid bravo airspace. I identified that a short tail of bravo I could vector to the final course at 2;500 and remain below the shelf. The next step would be to 3;500 in a 4;000 shelf of bravo. I was monitoring center departure and several traffic calls were made about me at 2;500. I kept identified each target and stated clear. I considered identifying that I was on frequency; but he was very busy. I glanced at my ipad between traffic spots and saw a 4;000 shelf and mistakenly thought I was in the 4;000 shelf so I climbed to 3;500. The ZZZ2 traffic was held at 4;000. I only went 3;000-3;500 the final 1-2 mi of the shelf (1 minute at my speed) and when he identified me at 3;500; I realized; I wasn't where I thought I was and by then; I was crossing into the 4;000 shelf. Distraction by watching traffic diverted my attention so that a glance misidentified the shelf of bravo. I have flown in bravo for X yrs without violating it. Flight following would have prevented this; but with the controller cut backs; they are so overworked in center; I did not think I needed it.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Pilot reported experiencing a Class B airspace violation.

Narrative: I departed ZZZ and was enroute to ZZZ1 before direct LR at 2;500 to avoid Bravo airspace. I identified that a short tail of Bravo I could vector to the final course at 2;500 and remain below the shelf. The next step would be to 3;500 in a 4;000 shelf of Bravo. I was monitoring Center departure and several traffic calls were made about me at 2;500. I kept identified each target and stated clear. I considered identifying that I was on frequency; but he was very busy. I glanced at my iPad between traffic spots and saw a 4;000 shelf and mistakenly thought I was in the 4;000 shelf so I climbed to 3;500. The ZZZ2 traffic was held at 4;000. I only went 3;000-3;500 the final 1-2 mi of the shelf (1 minute at my speed) and when he identified me at 3;500; I realized; I wasn't where I thought I was and by then; I was crossing into the 4;000 shelf. Distraction by watching traffic diverted my attention so that a glance misidentified the shelf of Bravo. I have flown in Bravo for X yrs without violating it. Flight following would have prevented this; but with the controller cut backs; they are so overworked in Center; I did not think I needed it.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.