Small aircraft penetrates lax TCA without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	140250
Time
Date	199003
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lax airport : smo
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4500 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla tracon : lax
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 5 flight time total : 450
ASRS Report	140250
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
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 other

Narrative:

I just took off in an small aircraft from santa monica. I asked the smf for a handoff to departure control for flight following. He gave me ZLA, which I contacted. I reported climbing through 1800 for 4500', which was acknowledged. Then, at the very edge of the TCA near dana point, he asked me my altitude, which I reported as level at 4500'. He said I busted the TCA. It seems surprising that he would say that since I had already stated my intent to climb to 4500' after leaving smo. I climbed at a normal 500 FPM. It was my understanding that his acknowledgement cleared me to go to this altitude at this airspace. (The floor of the TCA was 4000'.) in any event, he was not very busy, so I would think he would have at least warned me of problem rather than lead me into one.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PENETRATES LAX TCA WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: I JUST TOOK OFF IN AN SMA FROM SANTA MONICA. I ASKED THE SMF FOR A HDOF TO DEP CTL FOR FLT FOLLOWING. HE GAVE ME ZLA, WHICH I CONTACTED. I RPTED CLBING THROUGH 1800 FOR 4500', WHICH WAS ACKNOWLEDGED. THEN, AT THE VERY EDGE OF THE TCA NEAR DANA POINT, HE ASKED ME MY ALT, WHICH I RPTED AS LEVEL AT 4500'. HE SAID I BUSTED THE TCA. IT SEEMS SURPRISING THAT HE WOULD SAY THAT SINCE I HAD ALREADY STATED MY INTENT TO CLB TO 4500' AFTER LEAVING SMO. I CLBED AT A NORMAL 500 FPM. IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT HIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT CLRED ME TO GO TO THIS ALT AT THIS AIRSPACE. (THE FLOOR OF THE TCA WAS 4000'.) IN ANY EVENT, HE WAS NOT VERY BUSY, SO I WOULD THINK HE WOULD HAVE AT LEAST WARNED ME OF PROB RATHER THAN LEAD ME INTO ONE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.