Penetration of class B airspace during training flight in a C172.

Attributes
ACN	495800
Time
Date	200012
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : gll.vortac
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7500 msl bound upper : 8500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : d01.tracon
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : instructor oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 440 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	495800
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : student
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airspace Structure Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During 2 consecutive training flts with priority students, it is possible that I inadvertently entered a portion of class B airspace that extends from 8000 ft to 12000 ft MSL. As a new instructor, this was my initial experience introducing primary students to power-off and power-on stalls. I felt some anxiety regarding their reactions and sensed they were apprehensive also. I elected to begin these exercises at 8500 ft MSL (3500 ft AGL) to provide a larger margin of safety in the event of an inadvertent spin. Although there was relatively little turbulence in the practice area, I also decided to perform these maneuvers east of I-25 where the air was completely smooth. Most maneuvering was performed in class east airspace northwest of the outer lateral limits of class B airspace, and also in airspace underlying class B airspace having a floor of 10000 ft MSL. However, upon reviewing these flts the following day and consulting the den terminal area chart, I became concerned that we might have performed some maneuvers in that portion of class east airspace southwest of greeley that underlies class B airspace having a floor of 8000 ft MSL. Although I had the appropriate charts with me, I did not consult them during this phase of flight. At no time did I exceed 8500 ft MSL. I believe my inattn to the class B airspace limits was the result of: 1) my relative inexperience as an instructor and, 2) my anxiety regarding teaching stalls for the first time. In the future, I will avoid such possible airspace violations by maintaining situational awareness during all phases of flight and remaining at or below 7500 ft in this area. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated that the trainee was a primary pre-solo student pilot and that he was located in the flying clubs designated training area for primarily ground reference maneuvers since there was a class B floor T the higher altitudes over the area in which training could not be safely conducted. He admitted to a lack of preflight planning.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PENETRATION OF CLASS B AIRSPACE DURING TRAINING FLT IN A C172.

Narrative: DURING 2 CONSECUTIVE TRAINING FLTS WITH PRIORITY STUDENTS, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT I INADVERTENTLY ENTERED A PORTION OF CLASS B AIRSPACE THAT EXTENDS FROM 8000 FT TO 12000 FT MSL. AS A NEW INSTRUCTOR, THIS WAS MY INITIAL EXPERIENCE INTRODUCING PRIMARY STUDENTS TO PWR-OFF AND PWR-ON STALLS. I FELT SOME ANXIETY REGARDING THEIR REACTIONS AND SENSED THEY WERE APPREHENSIVE ALSO. I ELECTED TO BEGIN THESE EXERCISES AT 8500 FT MSL (3500 FT AGL) TO PROVIDE A LARGER MARGIN OF SAFETY IN THE EVENT OF AN INADVERTENT SPIN. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS RELATIVELY LITTLE TURB IN THE PRACTICE AREA, I ALSO DECIDED TO PERFORM THESE MANEUVERS E OF I-25 WHERE THE AIR WAS COMPLETELY SMOOTH. MOST MANEUVERING WAS PERFORMED IN CLASS E AIRSPACE NW OF THE OUTER LATERAL LIMITS OF CLASS B AIRSPACE, AND ALSO IN AIRSPACE UNDERLYING CLASS B AIRSPACE HAVING A FLOOR OF 10000 FT MSL. HOWEVER, UPON REVIEWING THESE FLTS THE FOLLOWING DAY AND CONSULTING THE DEN TERMINAL AREA CHART, I BECAME CONCERNED THAT WE MIGHT HAVE PERFORMED SOME MANEUVERS IN THAT PORTION OF CLASS E AIRSPACE SW OF GREELEY THAT UNDERLIES CLASS B AIRSPACE HAVING A FLOOR OF 8000 FT MSL. ALTHOUGH I HAD THE APPROPRIATE CHARTS WITH ME, I DID NOT CONSULT THEM DURING THIS PHASE OF FLT. AT NO TIME DID I EXCEED 8500 FT MSL. I BELIEVE MY INATTN TO THE CLASS B AIRSPACE LIMITS WAS THE RESULT OF: 1) MY RELATIVE INEXPERIENCE AS AN INSTRUCTOR AND, 2) MY ANXIETY REGARDING TEACHING STALLS FOR THE FIRST TIME. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL AVOID SUCH POSSIBLE AIRSPACE VIOLATIONS BY MAINTAINING SITUATIONAL AWARENESS DURING ALL PHASES OF FLT AND REMAINING AT OR BELOW 7500 FT IN THIS AREA. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT THE TRAINEE WAS A PRIMARY PRE-SOLO STUDENT PLT AND THAT HE WAS LOCATED IN THE FLYING CLUBS DESIGNATED TRAINING AREA FOR PRIMARILY GND REF MANEUVERS SINCE THERE WAS A CLASS B FLOOR T THE HIGHER ALTS OVER THE AREA IN WHICH TRAINING COULD NOT BE SAFELY CONDUCTED. HE ADMITTED TO A LACK OF PREFLT PLANNING.

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.