Narrative:

While flying on an IFR flight plan from mankato (mkt) to south st paul (sgs) about 5 NM east of the farmington (fgt) VOR at 3000 ft eastbound, msp approach called traffic (2 aircraft) at 2 O'clock position, 2000 ft, wbound. We replied that we saw the traffic. Approach said she wasn't talking to them and asked if we could identify the aircraft type. We said that we were too far away. Approach then asked if we could 'go down and take a look.' we agreed. ATC asked us not to descend below 2500 ft, which was the MVA for that sector. We broke off to the right and approached close enough to identify the type of both aircraft as white and blue belanca citabrias. We did not want to get closer and could not read the north numbers. However, we noted that we had descended to 2300 ft, 200 ft below the MVA. Since the day was VFR, this did not create a hazard, but it was contrary to ATC instructions. At no time were we close enough to the 2 citabrias so as to constitute a collision hazard. I would estimate our distance from them was at least 400 ft vertical and 600 ft horizontal. The 2 airplanes were under class B airspace, but within the new enhanced class B airspace.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MSP APCH CTLR ASKS PA24 PLT TO ESTABLISH ACFT VISUAL IDENT OF OTHER TFC FOR POSSIBLE ENHANCED CLASS B VIOLATION, WHO THEN OVERSHOOTS HIS ALT, INCURRING A POTENTIAL CONFLICT WITH THE FORMATION FLT.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING ON AN IFR FLT PLAN FROM MANKATO (MKT) TO SOUTH ST PAUL (SGS) ABOUT 5 NM E OF THE FARMINGTON (FGT) VOR AT 3000 FT EBOUND, MSP APCH CALLED TFC (2 ACFT) AT 2 O'CLOCK POS, 2000 FT, WBOUND. WE REPLIED THAT WE SAW THE TFC. APCH SAID SHE WASN'T TALKING TO THEM AND ASKED IF WE COULD IDENT THE ACFT TYPE. WE SAID THAT WE WERE TOO FAR AWAY. APCH THEN ASKED IF WE COULD 'GO DOWN AND TAKE A LOOK.' WE AGREED. ATC ASKED US NOT TO DSND BELOW 2500 FT, WHICH WAS THE MVA FOR THAT SECTOR. WE BROKE OFF TO THE R AND APCHED CLOSE ENOUGH TO IDENT THE TYPE OF BOTH ACFT AS WHITE AND BLUE BELANCA CITABRIAS. WE DID NOT WANT TO GET CLOSER AND COULD NOT READ THE N NUMBERS. HOWEVER, WE NOTED THAT WE HAD DSNDED TO 2300 FT, 200 FT BELOW THE MVA. SINCE THE DAY WAS VFR, THIS DID NOT CREATE A HAZARD, BUT IT WAS CONTRARY TO ATC INSTRUCTIONS. AT NO TIME WERE WE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE 2 CITABRIAS SO AS TO CONSTITUTE A COLLISION HAZARD. I WOULD ESTIMATE OUR DISTANCE FROM THEM WAS AT LEAST 400 FT VERT AND 600 FT HORIZ. THE 2 AIRPLANES WERE UNDER CLASS B AIRSPACE, BUT WITHIN THE NEW ENHANCED CLASS B AIRSPACE.

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.