Narrative:

I departed runway 31 at palo alto airport, ca. I requested and was cleared for a 'right dumbarton departure.' I contacted norcal on 135.4 MHZ over the dumbarton bridge and requested flight following to auburn, ca. I remained below 2500 ft until beyond 15 NM DME from the sfo VORTAC to remain clear of the sfo class B. Norcal gave me a squawk code, and I started a climb. I was now under sector D of the sfo class B, and had to remain below 4000 ft MSL to remain clear of class B airspace. Norcal restr my altitude to at or below 3500 ft for descending heavy traffic held at 4000 ft on approach to oakland international. I spotted the traffic, and after he passed behind me, I requested to resume my climb to my 5500 ft. Norcal said 'skylane X, you are cleared to climb to 5500 ft.' norcal did not specifically say that I was 'cleared' through class B airspace, nor did he say to remain clear of class B airspace. I did not specifically ask if his clearance would allow me to climb through class B. At approximately 18 NM DME from sfo VORTAC, I resumed my climb. I reached 5500 ft 22 NM DME from the sfo VORTAC. At that altitude, I was below the sfo class B. During my climb to 5500 ft, it is possible that I unintentionally broke through the 4000 ft MSL bottom of sector D of the sfo class B before reaching 5500 ft. I have flown the route between pao and aun many times, and I am aware of the sfo class B along that route, however, the distraction of the heavy traffic and other factors, I inadvertently did not clarify my clearance regarding the class B airspace. I believe the norcal controller contributed to the situation in that his instructions and clearance was not as specific with regards to the class B as it should have been.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOW TIME PVT PLT WONDERS IF SHE HAD ENTERED THE CLASS B OF SFO WITHOUT A CLRNC AFTER RECEIVING AN AMENDMENT TO HER ENRTE VFR CRUISING ALT OF 5500 FT 18 NM NE OF SFO, CA.

Narrative: I DEPARTED RWY 31 AT PALO ALTO ARPT, CA. I REQUESTED AND WAS CLRED FOR A 'R DUMBARTON DEP.' I CONTACTED NORCAL ON 135.4 MHZ OVER THE DUMBARTON BRIDGE AND REQUESTED FLT FOLLOWING TO AUBURN, CA. I REMAINED BELOW 2500 FT UNTIL BEYOND 15 NM DME FROM THE SFO VORTAC TO REMAIN CLR OF THE SFO CLASS B. NORCAL GAVE ME A SQUAWK CODE, AND I STARTED A CLB. I WAS NOW UNDER SECTOR D OF THE SFO CLASS B, AND HAD TO REMAIN BELOW 4000 FT MSL TO REMAIN CLR OF CLASS B AIRSPACE. NORCAL RESTR MY ALT TO AT OR BELOW 3500 FT FOR DSNDING HEAVY TFC HELD AT 4000 FT ON APCH TO OAKLAND INTL. I SPOTTED THE TFC, AND AFTER HE PASSED BEHIND ME, I REQUESTED TO RESUME MY CLB TO MY 5500 FT. NORCAL SAID 'SKYLANE X, YOU ARE CLRED TO CLB TO 5500 FT.' NORCAL DID NOT SPECIFICALLY SAY THAT I WAS 'CLRED' THROUGH CLASS B AIRSPACE, NOR DID HE SAY TO REMAIN CLR OF CLASS B AIRSPACE. I DID NOT SPECIFICALLY ASK IF HIS CLRNC WOULD ALLOW ME TO CLB THROUGH CLASS B. AT APPROX 18 NM DME FROM SFO VORTAC, I RESUMED MY CLB. I REACHED 5500 FT 22 NM DME FROM THE SFO VORTAC. AT THAT ALT, I WAS BELOW THE SFO CLASS B. DURING MY CLB TO 5500 FT, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT I UNINTENTIONALLY BROKE THROUGH THE 4000 FT MSL BOTTOM OF SECTOR D OF THE SFO CLASS B BEFORE REACHING 5500 FT. I HAVE FLOWN THE RTE BTWN PAO AND AUN MANY TIMES, AND I AM AWARE OF THE SFO CLASS B ALONG THAT RTE, HOWEVER, THE DISTRACTION OF THE HEAVY TFC AND OTHER FACTORS, I INADVERTENTLY DID NOT CLARIFY MY CLRNC REGARDING THE CLASS B AIRSPACE. I BELIEVE THE NORCAL CTLR CONTRIBUTED TO THE SIT IN THAT HIS INSTRUCTIONS AND CLRNC WAS NOT AS SPECIFIC WITH REGARDS TO THE CLASS B AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

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.