Narrative:

Departed bjc beneath denver class B airspace en route to centennial (apa). Immediately after departure, chose a heading (185 degrees) that would keep us clear (west) of the 10 NM i-den sector of denver's class B airspace and began a climb. Contacted den approach during climb to obtain a clearance through the class B airspace for instructional purposes. When we made our request to the controller, he stated that we were already in the class B airspace. I glanced at our altimeter and I remember it saying 8000 ft. Our intention had been to level off at 7500 (floor of class B starts at 8000 ft there) but we were occupied with trying to contact the controller and didn't notice we had climbed so high. We immediately leveled off and started a descent back to 7500 ft. The controller did issue us directional instructions which we continued to follow. Upon returning home, I re- checked the TCA chart and wondered exactly how or where we entered the class B airspace as the controller claimed. I believe we were no higher than 8000 ft, which is the floor of the class B outside of 10 NM i-den ring, and I believe we were farther than 10 NM west of the i-den DME antenna. Thus, if we actually did enter the class B airspace before getting our clearance, it was because we were not paying enough attention to our altitude or course and my recollection of that altitude and course is wrong. In any case, we were in an airplane with much more climb performance than I usually fly, and I should have been paying more attention to remaining clear of the class B airspace until we received our clearance. We did have a plan to stay clear, but it was poorly executed.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA SEL ON TRAINING FLT INADVERTENTLY PENETRATED CLASS B AIRSPACE BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO OBTAIN CLRNC.

Narrative: DEPARTED BJC BENEATH DENVER CLASS B AIRSPACE ENRTE TO CENTENNIAL (APA). IMMEDIATELY AFTER DEP, CHOSE A HDG (185 DEGS) THAT WOULD KEEP US CLR (W) OF THE 10 NM I-DEN SECTOR OF DENVER'S CLASS B AIRSPACE AND BEGAN A CLB. CONTACTED DEN APCH DURING CLB TO OBTAIN A CLRNC THROUGH THE CLASS B AIRSPACE FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES. WHEN WE MADE OUR REQUEST TO THE CTLR, HE STATED THAT WE WERE ALREADY IN THE CLASS B AIRSPACE. I GLANCED AT OUR ALTIMETER AND I REMEMBER IT SAYING 8000 FT. OUR INTENTION HAD BEEN TO LEVEL OFF AT 7500 (FLOOR OF CLASS B STARTS AT 8000 FT THERE) BUT WE WERE OCCUPIED WITH TRYING TO CONTACT THE CTLR AND DIDN'T NOTICE WE HAD CLBED SO HIGH. WE IMMEDIATELY LEVELED OFF AND STARTED A DSCNT BACK TO 7500 FT. THE CTLR DID ISSUE US DIRECTIONAL INSTRUCTIONS WHICH WE CONTINUED TO FOLLOW. UPON RETURNING HOME, I RE- CHKED THE TCA CHART AND WONDERED EXACTLY HOW OR WHERE WE ENTERED THE CLASS B AIRSPACE AS THE CTLR CLAIMED. I BELIEVE WE WERE NO HIGHER THAN 8000 FT, WHICH IS THE FLOOR OF THE CLASS B OUTSIDE OF 10 NM I-DEN RING, AND I BELIEVE WE WERE FARTHER THAN 10 NM W OF THE I-DEN DME ANTENNA. THUS, IF WE ACTUALLY DID ENTER THE CLASS B AIRSPACE BEFORE GETTING OUR CLRNC, IT WAS BECAUSE WE WERE NOT PAYING ENOUGH ATTN TO OUR ALT OR COURSE AND MY RECOLLECTION OF THAT ALT AND COURSE IS WRONG. IN ANY CASE, WE WERE IN AN AIRPLANE WITH MUCH MORE CLB PERFORMANCE THAN I USUALLY FLY, AND I SHOULD HAVE BEEN PAYING MORE ATTN TO REMAINING CLR OF THE CLASS B AIRSPACE UNTIL WE RECEIVED OUR CLRNC. WE DID HAVE A PLAN TO STAY CLR, BUT IT WAS POORLY EXECUTED.

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.