Brief penetration of TCA due to evasive action to maintain separation from other aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	108867
Time
Date	198904
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : phl
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 1700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phl
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 150
ASRS Report	108867
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action flight crew : exited penetrated airspace flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

The day VFR flight was planned from ilg to pne. Route of flight was north direct mxe VOR at 3000' MSL, then direct pne descending to an altitude below 1500' MSL to fly around and under the phl TCA. While en route from mxe to pne, descent was initiated out of 3000' to remain below floor of TCA. During the descent 2 VFR aircraft were observed passing in front from right to left at an altitude below. In order to maintain a safe sep the descent was stopped at 1700' MSL to let them pass below. During this time an 'in range' call to pne tower was made stating '10 NM west pne inbound for landing at 1700' MSL.' after passing over traffic the descent was continued to below 1500' MSL to remain below the floor of the TCA. During a portion of the time while leveling off at 1700' MSL the aircraft entered the floor of the phl TCA. After giving a position report to pne tower, I was asked to squawk 1200 and identify, then told, 'no radar contact, squawk sby.' the flight was continued uneventfully to a full stop landing at pne.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BRIEF PENETRATION OF TCA DUE TO EVASIVE ACTION TO MAINTAIN SEPARATION FROM OTHER ACFT.

Narrative: THE DAY VFR FLT WAS PLANNED FROM ILG TO PNE. ROUTE OF FLT WAS N DIRECT MXE VOR AT 3000' MSL, THEN DIRECT PNE DSNDING TO AN ALT BELOW 1500' MSL TO FLY AROUND AND UNDER THE PHL TCA. WHILE ENRTE FROM MXE TO PNE, DSCNT WAS INITIATED OUT OF 3000' TO REMAIN BELOW FLOOR OF TCA. DURING THE DSCNT 2 VFR ACFT WERE OBSERVED PASSING IN FRONT FROM RIGHT TO LEFT AT AN ALT BELOW. IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A SAFE SEP THE DSCNT WAS STOPPED AT 1700' MSL TO LET THEM PASS BELOW. DURING THIS TIME AN 'IN RANGE' CALL TO PNE TWR WAS MADE STATING '10 NM W PNE INBND FOR LNDG AT 1700' MSL.' AFTER PASSING OVER TFC THE DSCNT WAS CONTINUED TO BELOW 1500' MSL TO REMAIN BELOW THE FLOOR OF THE TCA. DURING A PORTION OF THE TIME WHILE LEVELING OFF AT 1700' MSL THE ACFT ENTERED THE FLOOR OF THE PHL TCA. AFTER GIVING A POS RPT TO PNE TWR, I WAS ASKED TO SQUAWK 1200 AND IDENT, THEN TOLD, 'NO RADAR CONTACT, SQUAWK SBY.' THE FLT WAS CONTINUED UNEVENTFULLY TO A FULL STOP LNDG AT PNE.

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.