Sectional chart markings for class B airspace very difficult to distinguish.

Attributes
ACN	263526
Time
Date	199402
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : stl
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2200 msl bound upper : 4100
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : stl
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 37 flight time total : 3442 flight time type : 37
ASRS Report	263526
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Chart Or Publication
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Entered northwest section of airspace using new kansas city sectional. Thinking the ceiling for that area was 5000 ft because I did not see the blue dividing line down the blue illinois river! I saw the 5000 ft designation on the map, moved my finger to the left, and did not see the dividing line! Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter states he had just purchased the new sectional chart or he would never have made the mistake. On the old chart the class B airspace floor in the same area was 3000 ft. He was surprised to see the change to 4000 ft. However he was unable to sight the change over line on the chart and flew into area of 3000 ft floor while talking to approach. Reporter had a difficult time finding ASRS form but finally got a 'bunch' from AOPA and has distributed them to the FBO's who could not supply him. In the process he has tried to make everyone aware of the change over lines from one section of floor area to another so they will not make the same mistake. Reporter is very conscientious about spreading the word.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SECTIONAL CHART MARKINGS FOR CLASS B AIRSPACE VERY DIFFICULT TO DISTINGUISH.

Narrative: ENTERED NW SECTION OF AIRSPACE USING NEW KANSAS CITY SECTIONAL. THINKING THE CEILING FOR THAT AREA WAS 5000 FT BECAUSE I DID NOT SEE THE BLUE DIVIDING LINE DOWN THE BLUE ILLINOIS RIVER! I SAW THE 5000 FT DESIGNATION ON THE MAP, MOVED MY FINGER TO THE L, AND DID NOT SEE THE DIVIDING LINE! CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES HE HAD JUST PURCHASED THE NEW SECTIONAL CHART OR HE WOULD NEVER HAVE MADE THE MISTAKE. ON THE OLD CHART THE CLASS B AIRSPACE FLOOR IN THE SAME AREA WAS 3000 FT. HE WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THE CHANGE TO 4000 FT. HOWEVER HE WAS UNABLE TO SIGHT THE CHANGE OVER LINE ON THE CHART AND FLEW INTO AREA OF 3000 FT FLOOR WHILE TALKING TO APCH. RPTR HAD A DIFFICULT TIME FINDING ASRS FORM BUT FINALLY GOT A 'BUNCH' FROM AOPA AND HAS DISTRIBUTED THEM TO THE FBO'S WHO COULD NOT SUPPLY HIM. IN THE PROCESS HE HAS TRIED TO MAKE EVERYONE AWARE OF THE CHANGE OVER LINES FROM ONE SECTION OF FLOOR AREA TO ANOTHER SO THEY WILL NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE. RPTR IS VERY CONSCIENTIOUS ABOUT SPREADING THE WORD.

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.