Small aircraft, no flight plan, penetrates TCA.

Attributes
ACN	122160
Time
Date	198909
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11500 msl bound upper : 13500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl tracon : atl
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 : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 1050 flight time type : 8
ASRS Report	122160
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Initial request for routing through or over atlanta TCA to cae made to ZME. They said wait 4 minutes for a handoff to ZTL. The request was made prior to gadsden, al. ZTL allowed me to climb to 11,500. At 46 DME from atl, center advised radar service terminated call atl approach in 10 mi. I made an immediate request to climb and they refused my request due to traffic. They had assigned a heading of 85 degree to cae. I didn't wait 10 mi to call atlanta approach but started immediately. Communications were established at 35 DME from atl. Approach didn't seem to expect me, and began to chastise me for being 2 mi in the TCA as we talked. Atl assigned a heading of 180 degree as I explained that I was following center instructions. In a short time approach assigned a 120 degree heading and a climb to 13,500 as earlier requested from center. At 13,500 communication was lost and I replied with transponder as requested. Apparently approach did ask center about my flight as they changed attitudes. This could have been prevented by center and approach cooperating or center not restricting my altitude.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA, NO FLT PLAN, PENETRATES TCA.

Narrative: INITIAL REQUEST FOR ROUTING THROUGH OR OVER ATLANTA TCA TO CAE MADE TO ZME. THEY SAID WAIT 4 MINUTES FOR A HANDOFF TO ZTL. THE REQUEST WAS MADE PRIOR TO GADSDEN, AL. ZTL ALLOWED ME TO CLIMB TO 11,500. AT 46 DME FROM ATL, CENTER ADVISED RADAR SERVICE TERMINATED CALL ATL APCH IN 10 MI. I MADE AN IMMEDIATE REQUEST TO CLIMB AND THEY REFUSED MY REQUEST DUE TO TFC. THEY HAD ASSIGNED A HDG OF 85 DEG TO CAE. I DIDN'T WAIT 10 MI TO CALL ATLANTA APCH BUT STARTED IMMEDIATELY. COMS WERE ESTABLISHED AT 35 DME FROM ATL. APCH DIDN'T SEEM TO EXPECT ME, AND BEGAN TO CHASTISE ME FOR BEING 2 MI IN THE TCA AS WE TALKED. ATL ASSIGNED A HDG OF 180 DEG AS I EXPLAINED THAT I WAS FOLLOWING CENTER INSTRUCTIONS. IN A SHORT TIME APCH ASSIGNED A 120 DEG HDG AND A CLIMB TO 13,500 AS EARLIER REQUESTED FROM CENTER. AT 13,500 COM WAS LOST AND I REPLIED WITH XPONDER AS REQUESTED. APPARENTLY APCH DID ASK CENTER ABOUT MY FLT AS THEY CHANGED ATTITUDES. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY CENTER AND APCH COOPERATING OR CENTER NOT RESTRICTING MY ALT.

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.