GA small aircraft unauthorized penetration of stl TCA while being vectored to nearby airport.

Attributes
ACN	158898
Time
Date	199010
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 1h0
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : stl
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 700 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	158898
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation Operational Deviation
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

I was approaching to land at creve coeur airport. Had been using ZKC for flight following. Center passed me off to stl approach, and I asked approach for vectors to my destination and advised them of my altitude. After some vectors from approach, he advised me that I was in the TCA and that I should descend immediately. I then did so, west/O any other problem. I suppose that my problem was lack of knowledge; I assumed that a controller would not bring me into the TCA west/O permission. I realize now that this is a problem of education. I believe that there are many private pilots who are not aware of the procedures necessary to enter a TCA. Possibly some training of controllers might be in order, too. This is not the first TCA that I have flown in and this has never occurred before. If possible, I would like to have some printed matter on this subject. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter has done some research and now thinks he was in error, but at the time he thought the vectors were implied clearance into the area. Reporter has been advised that if his destination is not the primary airport in the TCA, he would not get a TCA clearance. His destination lies under the stl TCA. Reporter is not sure, but believes he was using a discrete code when working with the center.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA UNAUTH PENETRATION OF STL TCA WHILE BEING VECTORED TO NEARBY ARPT.

Narrative: I WAS APCHING TO LAND AT CREVE COEUR ARPT. HAD BEEN USING ZKC FOR FLT FOLLOWING. CENTER PASSED ME OFF TO STL APCH, AND I ASKED APCH FOR VECTORS TO MY DEST AND ADVISED THEM OF MY ALT. AFTER SOME VECTORS FROM APCH, HE ADVISED ME THAT I WAS IN THE TCA AND THAT I SHOULD DSND IMMEDIATELY. I THEN DID SO, W/O ANY OTHER PROB. I SUPPOSE THAT MY PROB WAS LACK OF KNOWLEDGE; I ASSUMED THAT A CTLR WOULD NOT BRING ME INTO THE TCA W/O PERMISSION. I REALIZE NOW THAT THIS IS A PROB OF EDUCATION. I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE MANY PVT PLTS WHO ARE NOT AWARE OF THE PROCS NECESSARY TO ENTER A TCA. POSSIBLY SOME TRNING OF CTLRS MIGHT BE IN ORDER, TOO. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TCA THAT I HAVE FLOWN IN AND THIS HAS NEVER OCCURRED BEFORE. IF POSSIBLE, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME PRINTED MATTER ON THIS SUBJECT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: RPTR HAS DONE SOME RESEARCH AND NOW THINKS HE WAS IN ERROR, BUT AT THE TIME HE THOUGHT THE VECTORS WERE IMPLIED CLRNC INTO THE AREA. RPTR HAS BEEN ADVISED THAT IF HIS DEST IS NOT THE PRIMARY ARPT IN THE TCA, HE WOULD NOT GET A TCA CLRNC. HIS DEST LIES UNDER THE STL TCA. RPTR IS NOT SURE, BUT BELIEVES HE WAS USING A DISCRETE CODE WHEN WORKING WITH THE CENTER.

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.