Golden Eagle 421
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 31; Flight Crew Total 4021; Flight Crew Type 1472
Communication Breakdown
Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airspace Structure
I was making a VFR descent via Weber Canyon for landing at OGD (Ogden; UT). I have done this many times before and knew that it is steep descent thru the canyon. As I was descending; I contacted HIF (Hill Air Force Base) tower on the east side of the canyon at approximately 9;000 FT MSL. In the descent I had powered back and had 15 degrees of flaps in preparation for the steep descent. I requested clearance to OGD; landing with the current ATIS information. The tower cleared me for descent; 'thru the class Delta; remain below 7;700 feet'. The tower did NOT clear me into class B. I was only cleared into the underlying class D airspace. During this time; at about mid-way thru the canyon I encountered moderate turbulence and slowed my descent rate to slow to maneuvering speed. Doing this made it impossible for me to descend below the class B shelf to be in the Class D airspace. I advised HIF that I was unable to descend below 7;700; stating; 'Unable 7;700'. As I was in the canyon I did not have terrain clearance to circle or turn around. I had no choice but to briefly penetrate the Class B shelf that extends into the canyon. I stayed as close to the mountainside as possible and continued my descent; turning northbound and following the mountainside closely while descend as rapidly as possible to clear the lateral and bottom boundaries of the class B. According to my moving map I penetrated briefly the far east boundary of the Class B airspace shelf. There were a couple of garbled transmissions with HIF and other aircraft. HIF tower shortly thereafter asked me to say my aircraft call sign. I stated my call sign and HIF turned me over to OGD tower as I continued descending northbound along the mountainside to about 6;000 FT. After I contacted OGD tower they cleared me for a left turn for a right downwind for runway 35 at Ogden. I believe the shelf of the Class B in this area invites this type of deviation. It forces the pilot to be flying too low for safety when descending thru the canyon from the east and more importantly prevents the pilot from climbing to an adequate altitude to safely enter the canyon from the west. I sincerely doubt that any military of commercial aviation operations would operate in the mouth of this canyon in the Class B as depicted. Some provision should be made in the Class B shelf that allows for a VFR corridor to enter and exit the canyon without penetrating class B airspace or HIF should provide clearances to enter Class B during the climb or descent when entering Weber Canyon. For example; 'cleared to descend thru Class Bravo airspace; remain below 7;700 in Hill class Delta airspace; report exiting the canyon'; or 'Cleared to climb thru Hill Delta airspace and Class Bravo airspace to enter Weber canyon; advising entering the canyon.' This would enhance safety; simplify and clarify the clearance and prevent unintended penetrations of the Class B shelf.
A Cessna 421 pilot reported penetrating Class B airspace due to weather and unable to maneuver within the airspace.