A pilot contacted las TRACON well before entering the las class B and understood that he had clearan...

Narrative:

Upon final descent and entering into class B airspace at approximately 45 miles out from mccarran international airport; I contacted las vegas approach control for permission to enter restricted airspace (class bravo). The air traffic controller responded with instructions to continue on course and to call back in twenty miles. I was also given instructions to switch to another radio frequency and transponder code assignment. At twenty miles out I radioed again to approach control and due to radio activity I did not receive an immediate response. As soon as there was a break in radio communications I again called approach control and was instructed once more to change frequency and assigned another transponder code. At this point the new air traffic controller instructed me to immediately alter my heading to 270 and maintain altitude above 4;500. After being directed around mccarran I was instructed to transfer communications to henderson executive airport tower; my final destination. Upon landing at henderson executive airport and transferring communications to henderson ground control I was given instructions to contact las vegas TRACON and was thereby informed that I had entered class B airspace without permission. It was my understanding that when the air traffic controller gave direction to maintain current heading and call back in 20 miles that I was receiving permission to enter class B airspace. I was never informed while enroute that I had illegally or improperly entered into controlled airspace. Further; I wasn't routed outside the class B airspace when I radioed for my directive. I am a private pilot with relatively low hours experience as pilot in command and I want to operate in accordance with safe and legal practices. I don't know what more I could have done to stay in compliance and want to know what I need to do in order to avoid this situation in the future.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A pilot contacted LAS TRACON well before entering the LAS Class B and understood that he had clearance into that airspace because he was given a transponder code; a heading and an altitude. After landing ATC said he violated Class B.

Narrative: Upon final descent and entering into Class B airspace at approximately 45 miles out from McCarran International Airport; I contacted Las Vegas Approach Control for permission to enter restricted airspace (Class Bravo). The Air Traffic Controller responded with instructions to continue on course and to call back in twenty miles. I was also given instructions to switch to another radio frequency and transponder code assignment. At twenty miles out I radioed again to Approach Control and due to radio activity I did not receive an immediate response. As soon as there was a break in radio communications I again called Approach Control and was instructed once more to change frequency and assigned another transponder code. At this point the new Air Traffic Controller instructed me to immediately alter my heading to 270 and maintain altitude above 4;500. After being directed around McCarran I was instructed to transfer communications to Henderson Executive Airport Tower; my final destination. Upon landing at Henderson Executive Airport and transferring communications to Henderson Ground Control I was given instructions to contact Las Vegas TRACON and was thereby informed that I had entered Class B Airspace without permission. It was my understanding that when the Air Traffic Controller gave direction to maintain current heading and call back in 20 miles that I was receiving permission to enter Class B Airspace. I was never informed while enroute that I had illegally or improperly entered into controlled airspace. Further; I wasn't routed outside the Class B airspace when I radioed for my directive. I am a private pilot with relatively low hours experience as pilot in command and I want to operate in accordance with safe and legal practices. I don't know what more I could have done to stay in compliance and want to know what I need to do in order to avoid this situation in the future.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	952905
Time
Date	201106
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	LAS.Airport
State Reference	NV
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft High Wing 1 Eng Fixed Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 17 Flight Crew Total 276 Flight Crew Type 21
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Airspace Violation All Types

A pilot contacted las TRACON well before entering the las class B and understood that he had clearance into that airspace because he was given a transponder code; a heading and an altitude. After landing ATC said he violated class B.