Narrative:

From sdm (brown field san diego) I intended to follow VFR corridor over nzy (navy north island) for sightseeing/currency flight. Nzy tower denied request for fly over at 1500 ft MSL. I glanced at my VFR terminal area chart, reading 'VFR corridor 4500 ft and below.' I contacted san (lindburg tower) and reported 'transiting bay south to north at 1500 ft.' I reported intention to execute a 180 degree turn and proceed back south at coronado bridge, and asked if I needed to contact nzy tower. I did, and was told to stand by. Meanwhile, I was proceeding further nnw into the san 12500/surface airspace. Nzy tower came back up, informing me I had incurred san class B airspace. I switched to san tower and apologized, and executed a left turn to south at the same time. San tower, informed me to switch back to nzy tower, because I was in their airspace now (class D, I assumed). I also apologized to them for my confusion, and proceeded out of class D airspace. I believe san tower approved my further flight north because they thought I would execute my 180 degree turn to south at the coronado bridge. When I called nzy tower (navy) just at/past the bridge, I got the 'stand by' and I erroneously continued my course into san class B. My inaction: this was a currency flight for me, I had not closely studied the chart for some time. I had only intended to do 3 touch and go's for the day. My unfamiliarity with the chart and misreading of the proper altitudes for the VFR corridor caused this incursion on my part. Though I was in radio contact with the 2 towers, and no intent to break far's existed, my poor preflight planning caused my mis-navigation. Poor judgement played a part also, since I am not very familiar with the san diego airspace, but still I didn't plan the flight. The most beautiful day in weeks lured me into this poorly planned, impromptu sightseeing tour.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA ENTERS CLASS B AIRSPACE WITHOUT CLRNC WHILE TRANSITING VFR CORRIDOR.

Narrative: FROM SDM (BROWN FIELD SAN DIEGO) I INTENDED TO FOLLOW VFR CORRIDOR OVER NZY (NAVY N ISLAND) FOR SIGHTSEEING/CURRENCY FLT. NZY TWR DENIED REQUEST FOR FLY OVER AT 1500 FT MSL. I GLANCED AT MY VFR TERMINAL AREA CHART, READING 'VFR CORRIDOR 4500 FT AND BELOW.' I CONTACTED SAN (LINDBURG TWR) AND RPTED 'TRANSITING BAY S TO N AT 1500 FT.' I RPTED INTENTION TO EXECUTE A 180 DEG TURN AND PROCEED BACK S AT CORONADO BRIDGE, AND ASKED IF I NEEDED TO CONTACT NZY TWR. I DID, AND WAS TOLD TO STAND BY. MEANWHILE, I WAS PROCEEDING FURTHER NNW INTO THE SAN 12500/SURFACE AIRSPACE. NZY TWR CAME BACK UP, INFORMING ME I HAD INCURRED SAN CLASS B AIRSPACE. I SWITCHED TO SAN TWR AND APOLOGIZED, AND EXECUTED A L TURN TO S AT THE SAME TIME. SAN TWR, INFORMED ME TO SWITCH BACK TO NZY TWR, BECAUSE I WAS IN THEIR AIRSPACE NOW (CLASS D, I ASSUMED). I ALSO APOLOGIZED TO THEM FOR MY CONFUSION, AND PROCEEDED OUT OF CLASS D AIRSPACE. I BELIEVE SAN TWR APPROVED MY FURTHER FLT N BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT I WOULD EXECUTE MY 180 DEG TURN TO S AT THE CORONADO BRIDGE. WHEN I CALLED NZY TWR (NAVY) JUST AT/PAST THE BRIDGE, I GOT THE 'STAND BY' AND I ERRONEOUSLY CONTINUED MY COURSE INTO SAN CLASS B. MY INACTION: THIS WAS A CURRENCY FLT FOR ME, I HAD NOT CLOSELY STUDIED THE CHART FOR SOME TIME. I HAD ONLY INTENDED TO DO 3 TOUCH AND GO'S FOR THE DAY. MY UNFAMILIARITY WITH THE CHART AND MISREADING OF THE PROPER ALTS FOR THE VFR CORRIDOR CAUSED THIS INCURSION ON MY PART. THOUGH I WAS IN RADIO CONTACT WITH THE 2 TWRS, AND NO INTENT TO BREAK FAR'S EXISTED, MY POOR PREFLT PLANNING CAUSED MY MIS-NAV. POOR JUDGEMENT PLAYED A PART ALSO, SINCE I AM NOT VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE SAN DIEGO AIRSPACE, BUT STILL I DIDN'T PLAN THE FLT. THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DAY IN WEEKS LURED ME INTO THIS POORLY PLANNED, IMPROMPTU SIGHTSEEING TOUR.

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.