Narrative:

5/mon/89 xa am I called arcata FSS and filed IFR to VFR on top plan. They advised not to file 2 VFR plans, just cancel IFR when on top and then cancel flight following and re-pick up when I had picked up my passenger at angwin airport. I did so and at approximately XD10 am I departed angwin airport heading for monterey. I tried twice to reach oak for flight following and on second attempt started an arc around TCA till I got clearance through it (note: on my VFR sectional the arcs have no mileage marked on them). I started arc at 25 DME to give myself a 5 mi buffer, not knowing that on northeast end of TCA it stuck out to 25 mi. Due to strong north wind and that protrusion, I was at 21.5 DME when approach answered and advised me that I was in TCA. We turned north immediately and then I was advised to call supervisor when I got on the ground. I have never had an incident or occurrence before and would like to keep my record clean. If able, I would do some volunteer work or help GA in some way to avoid a citation. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: FAA is proposing a 60 day suspension for his violating the TCA. Reporter was using a sectional and apparently didn't realize the TCA extended to 25 NM. Reporter does not normally fly in this area and did not have a TCA chart with him. Reporter called TRACON upon landing and talked with supervisor and admitted he was in error and thought the incident was closed. Reporter has since been advised by oak FSDO that they are proposing the suspension. Reporter feels that the TCA penetration was inadvertent and that he was more than cooperative and does not understand the adversarial attitude of the FAA.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INADVERTENT PENETRATION OF THE SFO TCA.

Narrative: 5/MON/89 XA AM I CALLED ARCATA FSS AND FILED IFR TO VFR ON TOP PLAN. THEY ADVISED NOT TO FILE 2 VFR PLANS, JUST CANCEL IFR WHEN ON TOP AND THEN CANCEL FLT FOLLOWING AND RE-PICK UP WHEN I HAD PICKED UP MY PAX AT ANGWIN ARPT. I DID SO AND AT APPROX XD10 AM I DEPARTED ANGWIN ARPT HDG FOR MONTEREY. I TRIED TWICE TO REACH OAK FOR FLT FOLLOWING AND ON SECOND ATTEMPT STARTED AN ARC AROUND TCA TILL I GOT CLRNC THROUGH IT (NOTE: ON MY VFR SECTIONAL THE ARCS HAVE NO MILEAGE MARKED ON THEM). I STARTED ARC AT 25 DME TO GIVE MYSELF A 5 MI BUFFER, NOT KNOWING THAT ON NE END OF TCA IT STUCK OUT TO 25 MI. DUE TO STRONG N WIND AND THAT PROTRUSION, I WAS AT 21.5 DME WHEN APCH ANSWERED AND ADVISED ME THAT I WAS IN TCA. WE TURNED N IMMEDIATELY AND THEN I WAS ADVISED TO CALL SUPVR WHEN I GOT ON THE GND. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN INCIDENT OR OCCURRENCE BEFORE AND WOULD LIKE TO KEEP MY RECORD CLEAN. IF ABLE, I WOULD DO SOME VOLUNTEER WORK OR HELP GA IN SOME WAY TO AVOID A CITATION. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: FAA IS PROPOSING A 60 DAY SUSPENSION FOR HIS VIOLATING THE TCA. RPTR WAS USING A SECTIONAL AND APPARENTLY DIDN'T REALIZE THE TCA EXTENDED TO 25 NM. RPTR DOES NOT NORMALLY FLY IN THIS AREA AND DID NOT HAVE A TCA CHART WITH HIM. RPTR CALLED TRACON UPON LNDG AND TALKED WITH SUPVR AND ADMITTED HE WAS IN ERROR AND THOUGHT THE INCIDENT WAS CLOSED. RPTR HAS SINCE BEEN ADVISED BY OAK FSDO THAT THEY ARE PROPOSING THE SUSPENSION. RPTR FEELS THAT THE TCA PENETRATION WAS INADVERTENT AND THAT HE WAS MORE THAN COOPERATIVE AND DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE ADVERSARIAL ATTITUDE OF THE FAA.

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.