GA small aircraft penetrates clt TCA.

Attributes
ACN	148599
Time
Date	199006
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : clt
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7500 msl bound upper : 7500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : clt tower : lax
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 21000 flight time type : 40
ASRS Report	148599
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was PIC in small aircraft X with full seats en route from pfn to mtn VFR at 7500' receiving advisory from clt approach having just cancelled IFR due to longer amended routing. About 45 south of clt, approach advised us that he was unable to provide TCA clearance, remain clear of TCA at this time. I assumed, based on the fact that all east coast TCA's top at 7000' (except atlanta) that we were above the airspace. Knowing the en route chart show TCA tops with a characteristic note as shown example. We checked our L-20 to verify and found us information regarding clt top. While groping for a charlotte sectional the controller cleared us through TCA and added that we were in the TCA already. We hope it did not appear to ATC that this was a deliberate action in defiance of instructions or ignorance of far's. While we do not point to the lack of consistency in showing the top of TCA airspace on en route charts as the direct cause of our incursion it did cause some confusion and distraction from checking the clt VORTAC DME 30 NM readout which would have preceeded a quick turn. There is no doubt that fatigue was a factor also. We have resolved that 100 percent of all future long flts will be in accordance with IFR clearance regardless of routing or WX.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA PENETRATES CLT TCA.

Narrative: I WAS PIC IN SMA X WITH FULL SEATS ENRTE FROM PFN TO MTN VFR AT 7500' RECEIVING ADVISORY FROM CLT APCH HAVING JUST CANCELLED IFR DUE TO LONGER AMENDED RTING. ABOUT 45 S OF CLT, APCH ADVISED US THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE TCA CLRNC, REMAIN CLR OF TCA AT THIS TIME. I ASSUMED, BASED ON THE FACT THAT ALL E COAST TCA'S TOP AT 7000' (EXCEPT ATLANTA) THAT WE WERE ABOVE THE AIRSPACE. KNOWING THE ENRTE CHART SHOW TCA TOPS WITH A CHARACTERISTIC NOTE AS SHOWN EXAMPLE. WE CHKED OUR L-20 TO VERIFY AND FOUND US INFORMATION REGARDING CLT TOP. WHILE GROPING FOR A CHARLOTTE SECTIONAL THE CTLR CLRED US THROUGH TCA AND ADDED THAT WE WERE IN THE TCA ALREADY. WE HOPE IT DID NOT APPEAR TO ATC THAT THIS WAS A DELIBERATE ACTION IN DEFIANCE OF INSTRUCTIONS OR IGNORANCE OF FAR'S. WHILE WE DO NOT POINT TO THE LACK OF CONSISTENCY IN SHOWING THE TOP OF TCA AIRSPACE ON ENRTE CHARTS AS THE DIRECT CAUSE OF OUR INCURSION IT DID CAUSE SOME CONFUSION AND DISTR FROM CHKING THE CLT VORTAC DME 30 NM READOUT WHICH WOULD HAVE PRECEEDED A QUICK TURN. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT FATIGUE WAS A FACTOR ALSO. WE HAVE RESOLVED THAT 100 PERCENT OF ALL FUTURE LONG FLTS WILL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH IFR CLRNC REGARDLESS OF RTING OR WX.

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.