Licensed student and instructor misunderstand ATC instructions and penetrate sfo TCA.

Attributes
ACN	146017
Time
Date	199005
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sfo airport : apa
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oak
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 5200 flight time type : 275
ASRS Report	146017
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 88 flight time type : 88
ASRS Report	146016
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Student requested transit of the TCA (sfo) for training purposes (private pilot) from apc to sjc, landing at sjc. Proceeding on a heading of 180 degrees, climbing to 5500' from apc, controller gave us a squawk and told us to proceed, giving us traffic advisories. He then notified us that we were entering the TCA unauthorized. I misunderstood him, feeling that his clearance to 'proceed' gave us clearance to continue into the TCA. I was wrong! He told us to turn left and depart the TCA, then remain at 3500'. We did follow his instructions. I now understand that I had to hear the words 'cleared to enter the TCA.' I was the flight instrument on board.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LICENSED STUDENT AND INSTRUCTOR MISUNDERSTAND ATC INSTRUCTIONS AND PENETRATE SFO TCA.

Narrative: STUDENT REQUESTED TRANSIT OF THE TCA (SFO) FOR TRNING PURPOSES (PVT PLT) FROM APC TO SJC, LNDG AT SJC. PROCEEDING ON A HDG OF 180 DEGS, CLBING TO 5500' FROM APC, CTLR GAVE US A SQUAWK AND TOLD US TO PROCEED, GIVING US TFC ADVISORIES. HE THEN NOTIFIED US THAT WE WERE ENTERING THE TCA UNAUTH. I MISUNDERSTOOD HIM, FEELING THAT HIS CLRNC TO 'PROCEED' GAVE US CLRNC TO CONTINUE INTO THE TCA. I WAS WRONG! HE TOLD US TO TURN LEFT AND DEPART THE TCA, THEN REMAIN AT 3500'. WE DID FOLLOW HIS INSTRUCTIONS. I NOW UNDERSTAND THAT I HAD TO HEAR THE WORDS 'CLRED TO ENTER THE TCA.' I WAS THE FLT INSTR ON BOARD.

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.