GA pilot penetrates iad class B airspace without a clearance.

Attributes
ACN	534488
Time
Date	200201
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : aml.vor
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl single value : 5500
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc tracon : iad.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Darter 100/150
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 14.5 flight time total : 1867 flight time type : 510
ASRS Report	534488
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : issued advisory
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Environmental Factor ATC Human Performance Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I opened my VFR flight plan with clarksburg approach. (I could not raise an FSS.) the route of flight was from way direct to 2w6. Initially, I could only reach 3800 ft because of the clouds above the most western ridge of the allegheny mountains. Clarksburg approach gave me a squawk code. Soon I was able to climb to 5500 ft. Approach advised me to contact ZOB. ZOB advised me to contact ZDC. ZDC assigned me a squawk code. After a few mins, center called me and advised that they had not forgotten about me, but they were not receiving my transponder at that altitude. They advised me to remain on their frequency and to keep my assigned squawk code. They said they should pick me up somewhere about 25 mi northwest of martinsburg. I called ZDC 3 or 4 times to learn about any traffic in the dulles area, but I got no answer. I knew that I was about 25 NM from iad airport. When I could not raise ZDC after the third or fourth try, I looked up dulles approach's frequency for the west. After initial contact, approach assigned me another frequency. By the time the second controller was able to answer me, I was about 1 mi inside dulles C class B airspace. The controller advised me that I was in violation first officer entering class B airspace without clearance. I advised him that ZDC assigned me a squawk code but I could not raise them. I took it upon myself to call dulles approach since I thought that I was getting close to their airspace. The controller advised that even though center should have effected a handoff, I still was not permitted into their airspace without contacting dulles first. The controller said that there was no problem this time, but to be aware that entry into class B airspace can only be granted by the controling agency and not center. I think that this situation could have been avoided if ZDC would have handed me off to dulles approach. In the future, I will inquire of center to see if they are going to hand me off and if I can't raise them, I'll immediately contact approach. I'll start this process at least 15 mi before getting to the outer boundary of class B airspace.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA PLT PENETRATES IAD CLASS B AIRSPACE WITHOUT A CLRNC.

Narrative: I OPENED MY VFR FLT PLAN WITH CLARKSBURG APCH. (I COULD NOT RAISE AN FSS.) THE RTE OF FLT WAS FROM WAY DIRECT TO 2W6. INITIALLY, I COULD ONLY REACH 3800 FT BECAUSE OF THE CLOUDS ABOVE THE MOST WESTERN RIDGE OF THE ALLEGHENY MOUNTAINS. CLARKSBURG APCH GAVE ME A SQUAWK CODE. SOON I WAS ABLE TO CLB TO 5500 FT. APCH ADVISED ME TO CONTACT ZOB. ZOB ADVISED ME TO CONTACT ZDC. ZDC ASSIGNED ME A SQUAWK CODE. AFTER A FEW MINS, CTR CALLED ME AND ADVISED THAT THEY HAD NOT FORGOTTEN ABOUT ME, BUT THEY WERE NOT RECEIVING MY XPONDER AT THAT ALT. THEY ADVISED ME TO REMAIN ON THEIR FREQ AND TO KEEP MY ASSIGNED SQUAWK CODE. THEY SAID THEY SHOULD PICK ME UP SOMEWHERE ABOUT 25 MI NW OF MARTINSBURG. I CALLED ZDC 3 OR 4 TIMES TO LEARN ABOUT ANY TFC IN THE DULLES AREA, BUT I GOT NO ANSWER. I KNEW THAT I WAS ABOUT 25 NM FROM IAD ARPT. WHEN I COULD NOT RAISE ZDC AFTER THE THIRD OR FOURTH TRY, I LOOKED UP DULLES APCH'S FREQ FOR THE W. AFTER INITIAL CONTACT, APCH ASSIGNED ME ANOTHER FREQ. BY THE TIME THE SECOND CTLR WAS ABLE TO ANSWER ME, I WAS ABOUT 1 MI INSIDE DULLES C CLASS B AIRSPACE. THE CTLR ADVISED ME THAT I WAS IN VIOLATION FO ENTERING CLASS B AIRSPACE WITHOUT CLRNC. I ADVISED HIM THAT ZDC ASSIGNED ME A SQUAWK CODE BUT I COULD NOT RAISE THEM. I TOOK IT UPON MYSELF TO CALL DULLES APCH SINCE I THOUGHT THAT I WAS GETTING CLOSE TO THEIR AIRSPACE. THE CTLR ADVISED THAT EVEN THOUGH CTR SHOULD HAVE EFFECTED A HDOF, I STILL WAS NOT PERMITTED INTO THEIR AIRSPACE WITHOUT CONTACTING DULLES FIRST. THE CTLR SAID THAT THERE WAS NO PROB THIS TIME, BUT TO BE AWARE THAT ENTRY INTO CLASS B AIRSPACE CAN ONLY BE GRANTED BY THE CTLING AGENCY AND NOT CTR. I THINK THAT THIS SIT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF ZDC WOULD HAVE HANDED ME OFF TO DULLES APCH. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL INQUIRE OF CTR TO SEE IF THEY ARE GOING TO HAND ME OFF AND IF I CAN'T RAISE THEM, I'LL IMMEDIATELY CONTACT APCH. I'LL START THIS PROCESS AT LEAST 15 MI BEFORE GETTING TO THE OUTER BOUNDARY OF 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.