After transfer of ATC jurisdiction from ntd to bur approach the ATC controller was not aware that sm...

Attributes
ACN	102273
Time
Date	198901
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bur
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ntd tracon : bur tower : bur tower : hou
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 12 flight time total : 300
ASRS Report	102273
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other anomaly other
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Intra Facility Coordination Failure Inter Facility Coordination Failure Operational Deviation

Narrative:

I was on an IFR flight plan into bur on a perfect VFR day. I was with point mugu approach and was being handed off to bur approach and told to intercept the bur localizer. Upon being handed off to bur, I was told to stay outside the arsa and call back in 1 min. I said, 'this is small aircraft X, IFR at 5000',' on my call up. I waited 1 min and again restated the above as I was surprised at their requests. Now I was told to enter the downwind for 34R and contact the tower, which I did. However I could not see the airport so I said this to the tower after he told me to report entering the downwind. He told me to contact approach for a steer, which I did. Now the approach controller said that he had been trying to reach me and why was I at 2000' rather than 5000'. I told him that approach had instructed me to contact the tower and I was acting on that instruction. He then gave me a heading to reach the airport and contact tower, which I did and landed. The problem was a breakdown in communications somewhere. It was very scary for me to be in la airspace and to be told to not enter the arsa. Being on an IFR flight plan, I was prepared to judge the exact boundaries. I told him twice that I was IFR, but had no response in his instructions. I believe there must be better communications between the pilot, approach and tower. Maybe an expect further clearance from one controller before they hand you off.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AFTER TRANSFER OF ATC JURISDICTION FROM NTD TO BUR APCH THE ATC CTLR WAS NOT AWARE THAT SMA WAS ON IFR FLT PLAN. OPERATIONAL DEVIATION.

Narrative: I WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN INTO BUR ON A PERFECT VFR DAY. I WAS WITH POINT MUGU APCH AND WAS BEING HANDED OFF TO BUR APCH AND TOLD TO INTERCEPT THE BUR LOC. UPON BEING HANDED OFF TO BUR, I WAS TOLD TO STAY OUTSIDE THE ARSA AND CALL BACK IN 1 MIN. I SAID, 'THIS IS SMA X, IFR AT 5000',' ON MY CALL UP. I WAITED 1 MIN AND AGAIN RESTATED THE ABOVE AS I WAS SURPRISED AT THEIR REQUESTS. NOW I WAS TOLD TO ENTER THE DOWNWIND FOR 34R AND CONTACT THE TWR, WHICH I DID. HOWEVER I COULD NOT SEE THE ARPT SO I SAID THIS TO THE TWR AFTER HE TOLD ME TO RPT ENTERING THE DOWNWIND. HE TOLD ME TO CONTACT APCH FOR A STEER, WHICH I DID. NOW THE APCH CTLR SAID THAT HE HAD BEEN TRYING TO REACH ME AND WHY WAS I AT 2000' RATHER THAN 5000'. I TOLD HIM THAT APCH HAD INSTRUCTED ME TO CONTACT THE TWR AND I WAS ACTING ON THAT INSTRUCTION. HE THEN GAVE ME A HDG TO REACH THE ARPT AND CONTACT TWR, WHICH I DID AND LANDED. THE PROB WAS A BREAKDOWN IN COMS SOMEWHERE. IT WAS VERY SCARY FOR ME TO BE IN LA AIRSPACE AND TO BE TOLD TO NOT ENTER THE ARSA. BEING ON AN IFR FLT PLAN, I WAS PREPARED TO JUDGE THE EXACT BOUNDARIES. I TOLD HIM TWICE THAT I WAS IFR, BUT HAD NO RESPONSE IN HIS INSTRUCTIONS. I BELIEVE THERE MUST BE BETTER COMS BTWN THE PLT, APCH AND TWR. MAYBE AN EXPECT FURTHER CLRNC FROM ONE CTLR BEFORE THEY HAND YOU OFF.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.

After transfer of ATC jurisdiction from ntd to bur approach the ATC controller was not aware that small aircraft was on IFR flight plan. Operational deviation.