Charter flight penetrates TCA.

Attributes
ACN	178524
Time
Date	199105
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bos
State Reference	MA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bos
Operator	general aviation : instructional
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 : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 7000
ASRS Report	178524
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

En route from martin state airport to lawrence, ma transitioning below the bos TCA, tracking outbnd the put 059 degree right at 3500' MSL, under radar contact and squawking mode C to bos approach and talking to them as well. Told to remain clear of the TCA and responded I would comply. Trying to verify my position via pilotage on my current ny sectional when told by approach I had penetrated the bos TCA, to turn west and descend to exit the TCA. I turned from my heading of 060 degrees to 350 degrees and began an immediate descent, also. I then asked permission to switch to hanson tower to transition their air traffic area and once through their air traffic area returned back to bos approach at 2500' and proceeded to lawrence. My puzzle was how could I have penetrated the TCA on the track of the 059 degree right, which shows clearly 3500' would keep me well clear of the TCA. After examining my chart, I discovered I had missed the radial by 10 degrees. The correct radial off put was the 049 degree right, therefore I was much closer to the bos TCA than I had realized. Due to that error and my inability to precisely identify my position on the chart visually, the TCA penetration occurred. My lesson: check and double-check my planning. In aviation, even the smallest errors can create problems. An old lesson, but still valid.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CHARTER FLT PENETRATES TCA.

Narrative: ENRTE FROM MARTIN STATE ARPT TO LAWRENCE, MA TRANSITIONING BELOW THE BOS TCA, TRACKING OUTBND THE PUT 059 DEG R AT 3500' MSL, UNDER RADAR CONTACT AND SQUAWKING MODE C TO BOS APCH AND TALKING TO THEM AS WELL. TOLD TO REMAIN CLR OF THE TCA AND RESPONDED I WOULD COMPLY. TRYING TO VERIFY MY POS VIA PILOTAGE ON MY CURRENT NY SECTIONAL WHEN TOLD BY APCH I HAD PENETRATED THE BOS TCA, TO TURN W AND DSND TO EXIT THE TCA. I TURNED FROM MY HDG OF 060 DEGS TO 350 DEGS AND BEGAN AN IMMEDIATE DSNT, ALSO. I THEN ASKED PERMISSION TO SWITCH TO HANSON TWR TO TRANSITION THEIR ATA AND ONCE THROUGH THEIR ATA RETURNED BACK TO BOS APCH AT 2500' AND PROCEEDED TO LAWRENCE. MY PUZZLE WAS HOW COULD I HAVE PENETRATED THE TCA ON THE TRACK OF THE 059 DEG R, WHICH SHOWS CLEARLY 3500' WOULD KEEP ME WELL CLR OF THE TCA. AFTER EXAMINING MY CHART, I DISCOVERED I HAD MISSED THE RADIAL BY 10 DEGS. THE CORRECT RADIAL OFF PUT WAS THE 049 DEG R, THEREFORE I WAS MUCH CLOSER TO THE BOS TCA THAN I HAD REALIZED. DUE TO THAT ERROR AND MY INABILITY TO PRECISELY IDENT MY POS ON THE CHART VISUALLY, THE TCA PENETRATION OCCURRED. MY LESSON: CHK AND DOUBLE-CHK MY PLANNING. IN AVIATION, EVEN THE SMALLEST ERRORS CAN CREATE PROBS. AN OLD LESSON, BUT STILL VALID.

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.