Possible penetration of TCA.

Attributes
ACN	103007
Time
Date	198901
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dtw
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1600 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dtw tower : yqg
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 2 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 22 flight time total : 625
ASRS Report	103007
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

After clearing customs at det, I filed a VFR flight plan via crl V493 vwv, V47 cvg, V97 tys with planned altitude of 4500'. The aircraft is transponder equipped with an encoding altimeter which was on and working at all times. On takeoff from runway 25 I attempted to contact detroit approach control but was unsuccessful. I stayed at 1600' and contacted windsor tower. I was cleared through their zone and told to call on reaching the st clair river. I did so. I was then (as I understood it) cleared to the carlton VOR and en route. Believing I had clearance, I climbed to 2500 and then by the VOR I climbed to 4500'. Windsor never advised me to contact detroit approach. I used flight following all the way to tys. Then filed IFR for daytona beach. I phoned detroit approach as requested. (Dayton approach). I was advised it was a minor technical violation that had caused no difficulties as they knew my position and altitude at all times. This was entirely unintentional. I have tried hard to comply with all regulations over the past 17 years. No prior problems.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: POSSIBLE PENETRATION OF TCA.

Narrative: AFTER CLEARING CUSTOMS AT DET, I FILED A VFR FLT PLAN VIA CRL V493 VWV, V47 CVG, V97 TYS WITH PLANNED ALT OF 4500'. THE ACFT IS XPONDER EQUIPPED WITH AN ENCODING ALTIMETER WHICH WAS ON AND WORKING AT ALL TIMES. ON TKOF FROM RWY 25 I ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT DETROIT APCH CTL BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. I STAYED AT 1600' AND CONTACTED WINDSOR TWR. I WAS CLRED THROUGH THEIR ZONE AND TOLD TO CALL ON REACHING THE ST CLAIR RIVER. I DID SO. I WAS THEN (AS I UNDERSTOOD IT) CLRED TO THE CARLTON VOR AND ENRTE. BELIEVING I HAD CLRNC, I CLIMBED TO 2500 AND THEN BY THE VOR I CLIMBED TO 4500'. WINDSOR NEVER ADVISED ME TO CONTACT DETROIT APCH. I USED FLT FOLLOWING ALL THE WAY TO TYS. THEN FILED IFR FOR DAYTONA BEACH. I PHONED DETROIT APCH AS REQUESTED. (DAYTON APCH). I WAS ADVISED IT WAS A MINOR TECHNICAL VIOLATION THAT HAD CAUSED NO DIFFICULTIES AS THEY KNEW MY POSITION AND ALT AT ALL TIMES. THIS WAS ENTIRELY UNINTENTIONAL. I HAVE TRIED HARD TO COMPLY WITH ALL REGS OVER THE PAST 17 YEARS. NO PRIOR PROBLEMS.

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.