Narrative:

At 2300', heading 330 degrees, approximately 2 mi from the departing end of runway 22L (falcon field). I contacted phx approach on 126.6 and stated my position and request for VFR flight to prescott at 8500' via the 325 degree right spr. Phx approach instructed me to squawk 0331 and climb and maintain 3500'. I believed this instructions constituted clearance through the TCA. My next communication with phx approach was a query as to my intentions and instructed me to turn immediately to 330 degrees, which I did. I was then given clearance to climb and maintain 6000' and remain on a heading of 330 degrees to intercept the srp 325 degree right, which was originally requested. Nothing further was said by phx approach until I requested a frequency change because I was outside of the TCA at this point. At that time, I was granted a frequency change and I was instructed to contact TRACON on landing at prescott. This violation of the phx TCA was totally inadvertent. I believed my initial instructions (squawk altitude) constituted TCA clearance. I am sorry that I caused a traffic conflict. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter stated that he turned direct to the salt river VOR after he had contacted the approach controller. He was trying to orient himself after departing falcon field airport. The controller turned him when it appeared he was going to conflict with an medium large transport on base leg to phx. Controller had expected the pilot to continue on a heading of 330 degrees.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT ENTERED THE TCA WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION FROM ATC.

Narrative: AT 2300', HDG 330 DEGS, APPROX 2 MI FROM THE DEPARTING END OF RWY 22L (FALCON FIELD). I CONTACTED PHX APCH ON 126.6 AND STATED MY POS AND REQUEST FOR VFR FLT TO PRESCOTT AT 8500' VIA THE 325 DEG R SPR. PHX APCH INSTRUCTED ME TO SQUAWK 0331 AND CLB AND MAINTAIN 3500'. I BELIEVED THIS INSTRUCTIONS CONSTITUTED CLRNC THROUGH THE TCA. MY NEXT COM WITH PHX APCH WAS A QUERY AS TO MY INTENTIONS AND INSTRUCTED ME TO TURN IMMEDIATELY TO 330 DEGS, WHICH I DID. I WAS THEN GIVEN CLRNC TO CLB AND MAINTAIN 6000' AND REMAIN ON A HDG OF 330 DEGS TO INTERCEPT THE SRP 325 DEG R, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY REQUESTED. NOTHING FURTHER WAS SAID BY PHX APCH UNTIL I REQUESTED A FREQ CHANGE BECAUSE I WAS OUTSIDE OF THE TCA AT THIS POINT. AT THAT TIME, I WAS GRANTED A FREQ CHANGE AND I WAS INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT TRACON ON LNDG AT PRESCOTT. THIS VIOLATION OF THE PHX TCA WAS TOTALLY INADVERTENT. I BELIEVED MY INITIAL INSTRUCTIONS (SQUAWK ALT) CONSTITUTED TCA CLRNC. I AM SORRY THAT I CAUSED A TFC CONFLICT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: RPTR STATED THAT HE TURNED DIRECT TO THE SALT RIVER VOR AFTER HE HAD CONTACTED THE APCH CTLR. HE WAS TRYING TO ORIENT HIMSELF AFTER DEPARTING FALCON FIELD ARPT. THE CTLR TURNED HIM WHEN IT APPEARED HE WAS GOING TO CONFLICT WITH AN MLG ON BASE LEG TO PHX. CTLR HAD EXPECTED THE PLT TO CONTINUE ON A HDG OF 330 DEGS.

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.