Pilot of light corporate twins enters slc TCA without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	129557
Time
Date	198911
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : u42
State Reference	UT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : slc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 2 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 3975 flight time type : 80
ASRS Report	129557
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	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I departed slc #2 airport on runway 16 in an small aircraft X. I made a straight out departure and initiated my climb. During this time I was communicating on unicom 122.7. At approximately 1/2 south of the airport, after reporting my intentions on unicom, I changed frequencys to 120.9 slc departure and made my initial call to them. They acknowledged my call as I was climbing through approximately 5700'. As I approached 6000' I started to level out to wait for a clearance to enter the TCA. At about the same time I leveled off at 6000', slc departure asked me to report my altitude. I told him I was at 6000'. Departure returned, saying I was in the TCA, and that in the future I should remain at 5900' prior to receiving a clearance to enter the TCA. (I thought that I was at the bottom edge of the TCA at 6000', but not within it.) shortly after that departure cleared me to enter the TCA and continue my climb to 8500'. I was not above 6000' at any time prior to the time that slc departure cleared me to enter the TCA and continue my climb. I believe the situation arose because of confusion about about the point where you are actually within the TCA. My understanding was that when you were at the base altitude of the TCA, you were at the edge but not within it.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF LIGHT CORPORATE TWINS ENTERS SLC TCA WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: I DEPARTED SLC #2 ARPT ON RWY 16 IN AN SMA X. I MADE A STRAIGHT OUT DEP AND INITIATED MY CLB. DURING THIS TIME I WAS COMMUNICATING ON UNICOM 122.7. AT APPROX 1/2 S OF THE ARPT, AFTER RPTING MY INTENTIONS ON UNICOM, I CHANGED FREQS TO 120.9 SLC DEP AND MADE MY INITIAL CALL TO THEM. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED MY CALL AS I WAS CLBING THROUGH APPROX 5700'. AS I APCHED 6000' I STARTED TO LEVEL OUT TO WAIT FOR A CLRNC TO ENTER THE TCA. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME I LEVELED OFF AT 6000', SLC DEP ASKED ME TO RPT MY ALT. I TOLD HIM I WAS AT 6000'. DEP RETURNED, SAYING I WAS IN THE TCA, AND THAT IN THE FUTURE I SHOULD REMAIN AT 5900' PRIOR TO RECEIVING A CLRNC TO ENTER THE TCA. (I THOUGHT THAT I WAS AT THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE TCA AT 6000', BUT NOT WITHIN IT.) SHORTLY AFTER THAT DEP CLRED ME TO ENTER THE TCA AND CONTINUE MY CLB TO 8500'. I WAS NOT ABOVE 6000' AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE TIME THAT SLC DEP CLRED ME TO ENTER THE TCA AND CONTINUE MY CLB. I BELIEVE THE SITUATION AROSE BECAUSE OF CONFUSION ABOUT ABOUT THE POINT WHERE YOU ARE ACTUALLY WITHIN THE TCA. MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT WHEN YOU WERE AT THE BASE ALT OF THE TCA, YOU WERE AT THE EDGE BUT NOT WITHIN IT.

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.