Flight of small aircraft on VFR plan entered dfw TCA.

Attributes
ACN	169159
Time
Date	199101
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dfw
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dfw artcc : oak
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 420 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	169159
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departed addison airport VFR with clearance to transition TCA. After takeoff, instructions were amended to circumnav outside of TCA. WX was marginal VFR, low ceiling and low visibility. Being very familiar with the route, I didn't foresee any problems. Approximately 15 mins after departure I noted my heading being 180 degrees and thought something was not right, because that would take me directly to dfw from my position. For approximately 5 mins I was disoriented--not IMC, but confused with terrains beneath me and heading. It was very unusual, but I didn't react until the controller said, 'you are 4 mi north of dfw, turn right to 270 degrees--you are in the TCA.' no traffic conflict was suggested. After my heading was changed, center stayed with me approximately 5 mins, then let me go. I then came back and asked for suggested heading to my destination, meacham airport, ft worth. He gave me such information. I thanked him and apologized for the problem. No response from the controller.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT OF SMA ON VFR PLAN ENTERED DFW TCA.

Narrative: DEPARTED ADDISON ARPT VFR WITH CLRNC TO TRANSITION TCA. AFTER TKOF, INSTRUCTIONS WERE AMENDED TO CIRCUMNAV OUTSIDE OF TCA. WX WAS MARGINAL VFR, LOW CEILING AND LOW VISIBILITY. BEING VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE RTE, I DIDN'T FORESEE ANY PROBS. APPROX 15 MINS AFTER DEP I NOTED MY HDG BEING 180 DEGS AND THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT, BECAUSE THAT WOULD TAKE ME DIRECTLY TO DFW FROM MY POS. FOR APPROX 5 MINS I WAS DISORIENTED--NOT IMC, BUT CONFUSED WITH TERRAINS BENEATH ME AND HDG. IT WAS VERY UNUSUAL, BUT I DIDN'T REACT UNTIL THE CTLR SAID, 'YOU ARE 4 MI N OF DFW, TURN RIGHT TO 270 DEGS--YOU ARE IN THE TCA.' NO TFC CONFLICT WAS SUGGESTED. AFTER MY HDG WAS CHANGED, CENTER STAYED WITH ME APPROX 5 MINS, THEN LET ME GO. I THEN CAME BACK AND ASKED FOR SUGGESTED HDG TO MY DEST, MEACHAM ARPT, FT WORTH. HE GAVE ME SUCH INFO. I THANKED HIM AND APOLOGIZED FOR THE PROB. NO RESPONSE FROM THE CTLR.

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.