Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 3; Flight Crew Total 287; Flight Crew Type 287
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Airspace Structure; Human Factors
Flying VFR from the coastline toward SJC airspace. I was below the SFO class B shelf when I began checking the destination weather. I drifted up to the bottom of the class B shelf. The altitude gain appears to have been caused by ridge lift. I do not believe that I entered class B; but it is possible; depending on what altimeter setting the radar facility was using. As soon as I noticed I was near the shelf altitude; I descended well clear. I should have been more aware of the possibility of ridge lift and maintained a larger altitude margin to the class B shelf. I also could have moved my route 3 miles West; where the shelf is 2;000 feet higher; to allow a larger altitude margin to the class B shelf while maintaining clearance above the ridge.
C182 pilot reported inadvertent entry into SFO Class B airspace.