An small aircraft entered the bottom of the TCA while trying to avoid high terrain.

Attributes
ACN	257328
Time
Date	199311
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : slc
State Reference	UT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6800 msl bound upper : 7200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : slc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 760 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	257328
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was giving a local boy scout troop an introductory flight. The particular group of 3 boys on this flight were very enthusiastic. I tried to show them bingham copper mine. I came up the entrance following the railroad tracks, trying to duck under the 7000 ft class B floor and still trying to keep 500 ft above the surface. The speed of the aircraft (150 mph) coupled with my not wanting to compromise safety put me over the top of the mine with the need to climb into the class B airspace, to the east of the mine, to avoid the higher terrain on that side. As soon as I crossed the top, I dropped below 7000 ft. I believe now, going for 'joy rides' requires as much preflight planning as does a lengthy cross country! I should not have ventured up the tracks without more study of the terrain and the airspace. The class B airspace cuts the mine in half. I could have approached from the west and paralleled the controled airspace, staying out of it, and still getting a good look at the mine, with enough altitude for safety and regulations.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA ENTERED THE BOTTOM OF THE TCA WHILE TRYING TO AVOID HIGH TERRAIN.

Narrative: I WAS GIVING A LCL BOY SCOUT TROOP AN INTRODUCTORY FLT. THE PARTICULAR GROUP OF 3 BOYS ON THIS FLT WERE VERY ENTHUSIASTIC. I TRIED TO SHOW THEM BINGHAM COPPER MINE. I CAME UP THE ENTRANCE FOLLOWING THE RAILROAD TRACKS, TRYING TO DUCK UNDER THE 7000 FT CLASS B FLOOR AND STILL TRYING TO KEEP 500 FT ABOVE THE SURFACE. THE SPD OF THE ACFT (150 MPH) COUPLED WITH MY NOT WANTING TO COMPROMISE SAFETY PUT ME OVER THE TOP OF THE MINE WITH THE NEED TO CLB INTO THE CLASS B AIRSPACE, TO THE E OF THE MINE, TO AVOID THE HIGHER TERRAIN ON THAT SIDE. AS SOON AS I CROSSED THE TOP, I DROPPED BELOW 7000 FT. I BELIEVE NOW, GOING FOR 'JOY RIDES' REQUIRES AS MUCH PREFLT PLANNING AS DOES A LENGTHY XCOUNTRY! I SHOULD NOT HAVE VENTURED UP THE TRACKS WITHOUT MORE STUDY OF THE TERRAIN AND THE AIRSPACE. THE CLASS B AIRSPACE CUTS THE MINE IN HALF. I COULD HAVE APCHED FROM THE W AND PARALLELED THE CTLED AIRSPACE, STAYING OUT OF IT, AND STILL GETTING A GOOD LOOK AT THE MINE, WITH ENOUGH ALT FOR SAFETY AND REGS.

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.