Date: 201604
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Weather elements / visibility: 12
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: PA-46 Malibu/Malibu Mirage/Malibu Matrix
Operator: Personal
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: None
Mission: Personal
Flight phase: Climb
Airspace: Class B ZZZ
ATC / advisory: TRACON ZZZ
Aircraft component: GPS & Other Satellite Navigation
Component problem: Improperly Operated
Reporter organization: Personal
Reporter function: Single Pilot
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument
Human factors: Distraction; Situational Awareness
Anomaly: Airspace Violation All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Exited Penetrated Airspace
Contributing factors: Airspace Structure; Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: I filed an IFR flight plan. Since I was departing a non-towered airport in VMC I planned to depart VFR and pick up my IFR clearance after getting to 16;500 ft. We reviewed the class B airspace [to make] sure we avoided it. Most concerning was takeoff on runway 2 as this took us closer to the heart of B airspace with a base of only 1800 ft (1100 ft AGL). As I lined up for takeoff on RWY 2 I was highly focused on making sure I made the turn south in time to avoid the airspace. I also noticed an airplane beyond the end of the RWY that I thought might be on base for RWY 20 as the winds were light even though they favored RWY 2. After a short while I couldn't see the aircraft any longer; there were no transmissions from any other aircraft and I assumed the aircraft was heading for [another nearby airport]. I took off watching closely to make sure no one was landing on 20 and focusing on making the turn south in time to avoid the floor of class B. Although close I do believe I avoided the 1800 foot floor and as I turned south I focused on flying the plane and climbing to 16;500 feet. After that I spoke with Center who gave me an IFR clearance and asked me to call [the TRACON] when I landed as they had indicated I had entered their airspace. At first I thought maybe I hadn't avoided the 1800 ft base but then it occurred to me I never leveled off below the 3;600 ft base of the airspace and climbed right through it. I wondered how I didn't notice it on my GPS. I believe that since I was highly zoomed in on the moving map it didn't show me the bigger picture of the airspace. I didn't get an airspace alert and maybe that had to do with taking off within the confines of the airspace. How I forgot to level off to avoid the airspace is something I've given a lot of thought to. I am quite safety conscious and try to get the best and frequent training in my fairly complex airplane. It's ironic that this all occurred at the end of a safety seminar; and I don't believe this was due to a lack of either of those. I believe the airspace breach was due to the distractions of trying to avoid the airspace on take-off; a possible collision with an another airplane in the area; and my concern; even while taking off; of the weather at my destination. To avoid this in the future I need to recognize potential distractions and make sure they don't detract me from considering the entire flight from taxi at the departure airport to shut down at destination. In the future when departing in or near complex airspace it would be safer in most situations to do so IFR. I would also set up the GPS at a zoom level that would allow for better situational awareness when in or near controlled airspace.




Synopsis: The pilot of a PA46 reported becoming distracted while departing VFR from a non-towered airport and penetrating the nearby Class B airspace prior to receiving an IFR clearance.