Small aircraft pilot contacted approach for TCA clearance. Given squawk and told controller all pert...

Attributes
ACN	126829
Time
Date	198910
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : gai
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 8500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dca
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : initial
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 12 flight time total : 676 flight time type : 215
ASRS Report	126829
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other 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:

I contacted leesburg FSS at approximately xx to file a VFR flight plan for flight from gai through the washington TCA to the brooke VORTAC to ptb. I specifically asked the FSS specialists if I should anticipate any problems going through the washington TCA. The specialists advised me I may be vectored through the washington TCA, but should not have a problem traversing the TCA. I departed gai, activated my flight plan with leesburg FSS, and called washington TCA approach to request entry into the washington TCA. I advised washington TCA approach of my aircraft #, course heading, altitude and altitude climbing to, and equipment on board the aircraft. The washington approach controller assigned a transponder code to me, asked what altitude I was at, advised radar contact and gave me a traffic advisory. About 20 mins into the flight another controller called me asking where the aircraft was based, who owned the aircraft, and who was flying the aircraft. I provided the information to the controller and asked him why he wanted the information. The controller told me I had violated the TCA. I asked the controller, 'wasn't I under your control?' the controller told me I had violated the TCA. I took care to file a VFR flight plan specifically asking if I should have any problems entering the washington TCA and was advised by the leesburg FSS specialists that there should be no problem. I activated the flight plan with leesburg FSS, contacted washington TCA approach, received a transponder code and assumed I was cleared to enter the washington TCA. It is not my desire or intent to endanger the safety of the national aviation system. It is my intent to comply with all FAA regulations.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT CONTACTED APCH FOR TCA CLRNC. GIVEN SQUAWK AND TOLD CTLR ALL PERTINENT INFORMATION. SECOND CTLR SAYS VIOLATED TCA.

Narrative: I CONTACTED LEESBURG FSS AT APPROX XX TO FILE A VFR FLT PLAN FOR FLT FROM GAI THROUGH THE WASHINGTON TCA TO THE BROOKE VORTAC TO PTB. I SPECIFICALLY ASKED THE FSS SPECIALISTS IF I SHOULD ANTICIPATE ANY PROBS GOING THROUGH THE WASHINGTON TCA. THE SPECIALISTS ADVISED ME I MAY BE VECTORED THROUGH THE WASHINGTON TCA, BUT SHOULD NOT HAVE A PROB TRAVERSING THE TCA. I DEPARTED GAI, ACTIVATED MY FLT PLAN WITH LEESBURG FSS, AND CALLED WASHINGTON TCA APCH TO REQUEST ENTRY INTO THE WASHINGTON TCA. I ADVISED WASHINGTON TCA APCH OF MY ACFT #, COURSE HDG, ALT AND ALT CLBING TO, AND EQUIP ON BOARD THE ACFT. THE WASHINGTON APCH CTLR ASSIGNED A XPONDER CODE TO ME, ASKED WHAT ALT I WAS AT, ADVISED RADAR CONTACT AND GAVE ME A TFC ADVISORY. ABOUT 20 MINS INTO THE FLT ANOTHER CTLR CALLED ME ASKING WHERE THE ACFT WAS BASED, WHO OWNED THE ACFT, AND WHO WAS FLYING THE ACFT. I PROVIDED THE INFO TO THE CTLR AND ASKED HIM WHY HE WANTED THE INFO. THE CTLR TOLD ME I HAD VIOLATED THE TCA. I ASKED THE CTLR, 'WASN'T I UNDER YOUR CTL?' THE CTLR TOLD ME I HAD VIOLATED THE TCA. I TOOK CARE TO FILE A VFR FLT PLAN SPECIFICALLY ASKING IF I SHOULD HAVE ANY PROBS ENTERING THE WASHINGTON TCA AND WAS ADVISED BY THE LEESBURG FSS SPECIALISTS THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO PROB. I ACTIVATED THE FLT PLAN WITH LEESBURG FSS, CONTACTED WASHINGTON TCA APCH, RECEIVED A XPONDER CODE AND ASSUMED I WAS CLRED TO ENTER THE WASHINGTON TCA. IT IS NOT MY DESIRE OR INTENT TO ENDANGER THE SAFETY OF THE NATL AVIATION SYS. IT IS MY INTENT TO COMPLY WITH ALL FAA REGS.

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.

Small aircraft pilot contacted approach for TCA clearance. Given squawk and told controller all pertinent information. Second controller says violated TCA.