Small aircraft penetrates ord TCA.

Attributes
ACN	144435
Time
Date	199005
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ord
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 48 flight time total : 118 flight time type : 4
ASRS Report	144435
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : observer
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

In a VFR flight in VFR conditions from 1c2 en route to 3CK, I violated the limits of the chicago TCA. My initial plan was to fly the 141 degree right of the dupage VOR (dpa) to the station and clip the western edge of the dpa air traffic area while flying the 003 degree right off the dpa VOR 16 NM to lake in the hills (3CK). I was taking a friend to pick his girlfriend up. My friend has had about 15 hours of instruction over a 2 or 3 yr period. I attempted to explain the action of a VOR. Before explaining I went through what I believed the correct procedure for operating the autoplt to take me to the dpa VOR on the 141 degree right. My friend said, 'hey there's O'hare.' after I sucked my heart back in my body I pulled the fastest chop and drop I ever did. I will admit to shutting off my transponder for about 10 or 20 seconds. But I thought 'I already have one violation I'm not gonna go for two and turned it on.' I understand operating around chicago's O'hare is nothing to play with. I still feel I am qualified to act as PIC in the chicago TCA. I just found out what I hope to be a valuable lesson: keep your eyes outside the cockpit which in VFR flight is where they belong.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PENETRATES ORD TCA.

Narrative: IN A VFR FLT IN VFR CONDITIONS FROM 1C2 ENRTE TO 3CK, I VIOLATED THE LIMITS OF THE CHICAGO TCA. MY INITIAL PLAN WAS TO FLY THE 141 DEG R OF THE DUPAGE VOR (DPA) TO THE STATION AND CLIP THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE DPA ATA WHILE FLYING THE 003 DEG R OFF THE DPA VOR 16 NM TO LAKE IN THE HILLS (3CK). I WAS TAKING A FRIEND TO PICK HIS GIRLFRIEND UP. MY FRIEND HAS HAD ABOUT 15 HRS OF INSTRUCTION OVER A 2 OR 3 YR PERIOD. I ATTEMPTED TO EXPLAIN THE ACTION OF A VOR. BEFORE EXPLAINING I WENT THROUGH WHAT I BELIEVED THE CORRECT PROC FOR OPERATING THE AUTOPLT TO TAKE ME TO THE DPA VOR ON THE 141 DEG R. MY FRIEND SAID, 'HEY THERE'S O'HARE.' AFTER I SUCKED MY HEART BACK IN MY BODY I PULLED THE FASTEST CHOP AND DROP I EVER DID. I WILL ADMIT TO SHUTTING OFF MY TRANSPONDER FOR ABOUT 10 OR 20 SECS. BUT I THOUGHT 'I ALREADY HAVE ONE VIOLATION I'M NOT GONNA GO FOR TWO AND TURNED IT ON.' I UNDERSTAND OPERATING AROUND CHICAGO'S O'HARE IS NOTHING TO PLAY WITH. I STILL FEEL I AM QUALIFIED TO ACT AS PIC IN THE CHICAGO TCA. I JUST FOUND OUT WHAT I HOPE TO BE A VALUABLE LESSON: KEEP YOUR EYES OUTSIDE THE COCKPIT WHICH IN VFR FLT IS WHERE THEY BELONG.

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.