Small aircraft blundered into phx class B airspace. He thought he was paralleling the 4000 ft floor ...

Attributes
ACN	352190
Time
Date	199611
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sdl
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phx
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 44 flight time total : 210 flight time type : 210
ASRS Report	352190
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Violation of class B airspace. Phx bottom of ceiling was 4000 ft MSL. I was flying at 5000 ft MSL. I was using GPS only and thought I was in a different sector, that had a 6000 ft MSL ceiling. My intended flight was due east 90 degrees but was flying 120 degrees. I intended to takeoff from sdl airport and fly under B airspace due east and climb to 9500 ft MSL when clear of B airspace. Took off from sdl and was navigating with GPS but did not have destination keyed in. Preoccupied with keying in destination. Lack of preflight planning, relying on GPS only. Should have had GPS keyed in and planned a course of flight. Too much reliance on GPS and (pandora's box sometimes). Navigation first by compass and (VOR if available) back up with GPS. I discovered the problem when I came upon falcon airport (FF2). I had received (not enough) the VFR terminal chart for phx. When seeing the airport I knew I was off course and got out the terminal area chart. I made a 60 degree turn to the north and continued flight, I was out of class B airspace by then. I left sdl with a 270 degree right turn off runway 21 (for noise abatement) and when flying over mid-field I was thinking that I was flying 90 degrees east but the runway is 03/21. I was flying 130 degrees more south than was my intention.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA BLUNDERED INTO PHX CLASS B AIRSPACE. HE THOUGHT HE WAS PARALLELING THE 4000 FT FLOOR BOUNDARY BUT HE WAS ACTUALLY FLYING TOWARD IT AND ENTERED IT.

Narrative: VIOLATION OF CLASS B AIRSPACE. PHX BOTTOM OF CEILING WAS 4000 FT MSL. I WAS FLYING AT 5000 FT MSL. I WAS USING GPS ONLY AND THOUGHT I WAS IN A DIFFERENT SECTOR, THAT HAD A 6000 FT MSL CEILING. MY INTENDED FLT WAS DUE E 90 DEGS BUT WAS FLYING 120 DEGS. I INTENDED TO TKOF FROM SDL ARPT AND FLY UNDER B AIRSPACE DUE E AND CLB TO 9500 FT MSL WHEN CLR OF B AIRSPACE. TOOK OFF FROM SDL AND WAS NAVING WITH GPS BUT DID NOT HAVE DEST KEYED IN. PREOCCUPIED WITH KEYING IN DEST. LACK OF PREFLT PLANNING, RELYING ON GPS ONLY. SHOULD HAVE HAD GPS KEYED IN AND PLANNED A COURSE OF FLT. TOO MUCH RELIANCE ON GPS AND (PANDORA'S BOX SOMETIMES). NAV FIRST BY COMPASS AND (VOR IF AVAILABLE) BACK UP WITH GPS. I DISCOVERED THE PROB WHEN I CAME UPON FALCON ARPT (FF2). I HAD RECEIVED (NOT ENOUGH) THE VFR TERMINAL CHART FOR PHX. WHEN SEEING THE ARPT I KNEW I WAS OFF COURSE AND GOT OUT THE TERMINAL AREA CHART. I MADE A 60 DEG TURN TO THE N AND CONTINUED FLT, I WAS OUT OF CLASS B AIRSPACE BY THEN. I LEFT SDL WITH A 270 DEG R TURN OFF RWY 21 (FOR NOISE ABATEMENT) AND WHEN FLYING OVER MID-FIELD I WAS THINKING THAT I WAS FLYING 90 DEGS E BUT THE RWY IS 03/21. I WAS FLYING 130 DEGS MORE S THAN WAS MY INTENTION.

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.

Small aircraft blundered into phx class B airspace. He thought he was paralleling the 4000 ft floor boundary but he was actually flying toward it and entered it.