Narrative:

I was given instructions by oak tower (I believe it was tower and not approach) to 'proceed from over runway 29 numbers to san mateo bridge mid-span.' the san mateo bridge appears from the air as a long causeway with a suspension bridge near the west end. Initially, we understood the instruction to mean the suspension bridge, where the controller intended it to mean the entire causeway/bridge, which would have given us a more easterly heading. The result was the controller notifying us that we were about to enter class B airspace, then, while in a turn to avoid the airspace, he informed us that we had actually entered the class B airspace. He then gave us a new vector to take us out of the class B. Approach, 15 seconds later, informed us that we were clear of the class B and could resume our own navigation. I didn't think we were in the class B at all, but I assume the controller's radar is more accurate than my VFR navigation. The causes were several. First, we miscommunicated on what was meant by 'mid-span.' second, I should have kept better track of my position. Third, the vector issued by ATC took us especially close to class B, even if there was not a misunderstanding. Fourth, the controller could have been quicker to warn us of the class B airspace (though it's not technically his responsibility). Overall, the incursion could have been avoided by either myself or the controller taking action.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT PROCEEDING SW FROM OVER OAK ARPT INADVERTENTLY PENETRATED THE SFO CLASS B AIRSPACE. OAK TWR ISSUED INSTRUCTIONS FROM OVER THE OAK RWY 29 NUMBERS DIRECT TO THE MID SPAN OF THE SAN MATEO BRIDGE. THE PLT APPARENTLY MISUNDERSTOOD AND WENT DIRECT TO THE SAN MATEO BRIDGE HIGH RISE.

Narrative: I WAS GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS BY OAK TWR (I BELIEVE IT WAS TWR AND NOT APCH) TO 'PROCEED FROM OVER RWY 29 NUMBERS TO SAN MATEO BRIDGE MID-SPAN.' THE SAN MATEO BRIDGE APPEARS FROM THE AIR AS A LONG CAUSEWAY WITH A SUSPENSION BRIDGE NEAR THE W END. INITIALLY, WE UNDERSTOOD THE INSTRUCTION TO MEAN THE SUSPENSION BRIDGE, WHERE THE CTLR INTENDED IT TO MEAN THE ENTIRE CAUSEWAY/BRIDGE, WHICH WOULD HAVE GIVEN US A MORE EASTERLY HDG. THE RESULT WAS THE CTLR NOTIFYING US THAT WE WERE ABOUT TO ENTER CLASS B AIRSPACE, THEN, WHILE IN A TURN TO AVOID THE AIRSPACE, HE INFORMED US THAT WE HAD ACTUALLY ENTERED THE CLASS B AIRSPACE. HE THEN GAVE US A NEW VECTOR TO TAKE US OUT OF THE CLASS B. APCH, 15 SECONDS LATER, INFORMED US THAT WE WERE CLR OF THE CLASS B AND COULD RESUME OUR OWN NAV. I DIDN'T THINK WE WERE IN THE CLASS B AT ALL, BUT I ASSUME THE CTLR'S RADAR IS MORE ACCURATE THAN MY VFR NAV. THE CAUSES WERE SEVERAL. FIRST, WE MISCOMMUNICATED ON WHAT WAS MEANT BY 'MID-SPAN.' SECOND, I SHOULD HAVE KEPT BETTER TRACK OF MY POS. THIRD, THE VECTOR ISSUED BY ATC TOOK US ESPECIALLY CLOSE TO CLASS B, EVEN IF THERE WAS NOT A MISUNDERSTANDING. FOURTH, THE CTLR COULD HAVE BEEN QUICKER TO WARN US OF THE CLASS B AIRSPACE (THOUGH IT'S NOT TECHNICALLY HIS RESPONSIBILITY). OVERALL, THE INCURSION COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED BY EITHER MYSELF OR THE CTLR TAKING ACTION.

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.