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Pilot of small aircraft inadvertently penetrated TCA while attempting to make radio contact with approach controller.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 115441 |
| Time | |
| Date | 198906 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : agc |
| State Reference | PA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 5500 msl bound upper : 5500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : pit |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear |
| Flight Phase | cruise other |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : private pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 395 flight time type : 35 |
| ASRS Report | 115441 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : far other anomaly other other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : exited penetrated airspace |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
Inadvertent TCA incursion occurred when I suffered radio problem. I had contacted pit approach for permission to enter pittsburgh TCA en route to agc airport on V12 at 5500', squawking 1200 on mode. C. Initial contact on communication 1 on 123.95 at about 35 mi from agc VOR. I was advised to recontact approach on 124.15, which I did immediately, but I could barely hear the controller and asked for a repeat. Still unable to hear, I switched to communication 2 and repeated my call to approach. This time, I copied the transmission and was given my new transponder code xyxz, I think. Several minutes had passed during this episode. ATC then advised that I had entered TCA without permission. To prevent this situation from occurring again, I recommend: 1) contacting approach control radar 20 mi or more from TCA instead of 5-7. 2) in case of radio malfunction, immediate 180 degree turn as soon as malfunction is recognized, then deal with radio problem before entering TCA inadvertently while attention is focused on radios. 3) clear notation on detroit sectional chart on frequencys for contacting pit approach. This added to the initial confusion. On same sectional, there are instructions for contacting columbus approach when in the area.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PLT OF SMA INADVERTENTLY PENETRATED TCA WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE RADIO CONTACT WITH APCH CTLR.
Narrative: INADVERTENT TCA INCURSION OCCURRED WHEN I SUFFERED RADIO PROBLEM. I HAD CONTACTED PIT APCH FOR PERMISSION TO ENTER PITTSBURGH TCA ENRTE TO AGC ARPT ON V12 AT 5500', SQUAWKING 1200 ON MODE. C. INITIAL CONTACT ON COM 1 ON 123.95 AT ABOUT 35 MI FROM AGC VOR. I WAS ADVISED TO RECONTACT APCH ON 124.15, WHICH I DID IMMEDIATELY, BUT I COULD BARELY HEAR THE CTLR AND ASKED FOR A REPEAT. STILL UNABLE TO HEAR, I SWITCHED TO COM 2 AND REPEATED MY CALL TO APCH. THIS TIME, I COPIED THE XMISSION AND WAS GIVEN MY NEW XPONDER CODE XYXZ, I THINK. SEVERAL MINUTES HAD PASSED DURING THIS EPISODE. ATC THEN ADVISED THAT I HAD ENTERED TCA WITHOUT PERMISSION. TO PREVENT THIS SITUATION FROM OCCURRING AGAIN, I RECOMMEND: 1) CONTACTING APCH CTL RADAR 20 MI OR MORE FROM TCA INSTEAD OF 5-7. 2) IN CASE OF RADIO MALFUNCTION, IMMEDIATE 180 DEG TURN AS SOON AS MALFUNCTION IS RECOGNIZED, THEN DEAL WITH RADIO PROBLEM BEFORE ENTERING TCA INADVERTENTLY WHILE ATTN IS FOCUSED ON RADIOS. 3) CLEAR NOTATION ON DETROIT SECTIONAL CHART ON FREQS FOR CONTACTING PIT APCH. THIS ADDED TO THE INITIAL CONFUSION. ON SAME SECTIONAL, THERE ARE INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONTACTING COLUMBUS APCH WHEN IN THE AREA.
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.