B727-200 crew flew below sfo class B airspace on the quiet bridge approach to sfo.

Attributes
ACN	504020
Time
Date	200103
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sfo.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : o90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : charter
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 129
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 28l
Flight Phase	descent : vacating altitude descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival star : big sur 2
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : charter
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	504020
Person 2
Affiliation	company : charter
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : company policies non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to assigned altitude none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While executing 'bigsur 2 arrival' at sfo, were cleared for the quiet bridge visual approach runway 28L. Normally, this clearance is issued near menlo intersection. This time, however, it was given shortly after boldr intersection. With clear sky and visibility +10 mi, I continued descending gradually so as to cross bridge intersection (FAF) at 1900 ft. We were calm and ease in a perfect clear day, looking around for VFR traffic, when ATC called us requesting climb to 3000 ft. At that time we were level at 2000 ft, short of the final approach course. I believe it would work much better for all concerned and will improve safety if, after issuing the above mentioned clearance for the visual approach, controllers would simply add 'maintain 5000 ft to menlo, cleared for the approach.' this will keep pilots aware of the type 'B' space environment and will alert them of the MCA at menlo intersection.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727-200 CREW FLEW BELOW SFO CLASS B AIRSPACE ON THE QUIET BRIDGE APCH TO SFO.

Narrative: WHILE EXECUTING 'BIGSUR 2 ARR' AT SFO, WERE CLRED FOR THE QUIET BRIDGE VISUAL APCH RWY 28L. NORMALLY, THIS CLRNC IS ISSUED NEAR MENLO INTXN. THIS TIME, HOWEVER, IT WAS GIVEN SHORTLY AFTER BOLDR INTXN. WITH CLR SKY AND VISIBILITY +10 MI, I CONTINUED DSNDING GRADUALLY SO AS TO CROSS BRIDGE INTXN (FAF) AT 1900 FT. WE WERE CALM AND EASE IN A PERFECT CLR DAY, LOOKING AROUND FOR VFR TFC, WHEN ATC CALLED US REQUESTING CLB TO 3000 FT. AT THAT TIME WE WERE LEVEL AT 2000 FT, SHORT OF THE FINAL APCH COURSE. I BELIEVE IT WOULD WORK MUCH BETTER FOR ALL CONCERNED AND WILL IMPROVE SAFETY IF, AFTER ISSUING THE ABOVE MENTIONED CLRNC FOR THE VISUAL APCH, CTLRS WOULD SIMPLY ADD 'MAINTAIN 5000 FT TO MENLO, CLRED FOR THE APCH.' THIS WILL KEEP PLTS AWARE OF THE TYPE 'B' SPACE ENVIRONMENT AND WILL ALERT THEM OF THE MCA AT MENLO INTXN.

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.