Small aircraft penetrates TCA while following sequenced traffic on long downwind.

Attributes
ACN	152291
Time
Date	199007
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : apa
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7500 msl bound upper : 7500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : den tower : apa
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 : 25 flight time total : 1500 flight time type : 25
ASRS Report	152291
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was flying VFR from lhx to apa. I was navigating VFR, and as I was about 15 mi from my destination at 8500' MSL and began descending, the controller at apa asked me my altitude. At that point it was 7500'. I had previously contacted tower for instructions. I was told to report when I was close (2 mi to tower). This was before I was asked for my altitude. I believed I was following instructions. I was then told that there was small aircraft traffic ahead. I did see an small aircraft pass to my left (about 1/2 mi to my left). I did have my TCA chart on my lap and was to my knowledge out of the TCA 7500' area floor. The controller had told me I was #2 to land. I flew midway across the lake at the approach end of the runway (17L) as instructed, and landed after the small transport was off of the runway. As I was taxiing in, the ground controller said that they were notified that my aircraft had been in the TCA and that they had to vector small aircraft traffic away from me. I had never landed 17L before and if I was in the TCA I was unaware.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PENETRATES TCA WHILE FOLLOWING SEQUENCED TRAFFIC ON LONG DOWNWIND.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING VFR FROM LHX TO APA. I WAS NAVIGATING VFR, AND AS I WAS ABOUT 15 MI FROM MY DEST AT 8500' MSL AND BEGAN DSNDING, THE CTLR AT APA ASKED ME MY ALT. AT THAT POINT IT WAS 7500'. I HAD PREVIOUSLY CONTACTED TWR FOR INSTRUCTIONS. I WAS TOLD TO RPT WHEN I WAS CLOSE (2 MI TO TWR). THIS WAS BEFORE I WAS ASKED FOR MY ALT. I BELIEVED I WAS FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THERE WAS SMA TFC AHEAD. I DID SEE AN SMA PASS TO MY LEFT (ABOUT 1/2 MI TO MY LEFT). I DID HAVE MY TCA CHART ON MY LAP AND WAS TO MY KNOWLEDGE OUT OF THE TCA 7500' AREA FLOOR. THE CTLR HAD TOLD ME I WAS #2 TO LAND. I FLEW MIDWAY ACROSS THE LAKE AT THE APCH END OF THE RWY (17L) AS INSTRUCTED, AND LANDED AFTER THE SMT WAS OFF OF THE RWY. AS I WAS TAXIING IN, THE GND CTLR SAID THAT THEY WERE NOTIFIED THAT MY ACFT HAD BEEN IN THE TCA AND THAT THEY HAD TO VECTOR SMA TFC AWAY FROM ME. I HAD NEVER LANDED 17L BEFORE AND IF I WAS IN THE TCA I WAS UNAWARE.

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.