Small aircraft penetrates TCA, twice.

Attributes
ACN	179169
Time
Date	199105
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : jot
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord
Operator	general aviation : personal
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 : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 79 flight time total : 936 flight time type : 2
ASRS Report	179169
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I had purchased an small aircraft and was going to ferry it back to 3HA for the night. I was quite fatigued as I had flown in from california the night prior and was only able to get 2 hours sleep. The aircraft had non standard cockpit layout. It was an early model and I have flown it only 1.5 hours before attempting the ferry. My plan was to fly to 3HA via direct dpa VOR, large transport VOR, direct. My first mistake came after leaving 3CK. I climbed to 4000' MSL and called ord for advisories and he informed me I was in the TCA and that if I descended to 3900' MSL I'd be ok. I did. After reaching dpa I turned to 120 degrees to track to cgt and I got another call that I entered the TCA. I turned due south to joliet, then east 3HA. I had a TCA chart and was attempting to use it. The second incursion I can attribute to altitude. I was at 3700' and the TCA segment called for 3600' MSL. I attribute this problem to pilot fatigue, insufficient familiarity with aircraft and area. I must keep north mind that not only does the aircraft need to be preflted, so does the pilot--I knew better.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PENETRATES TCA, TWICE.

Narrative: I HAD PURCHASED AN SMA AND WAS GOING TO FERRY IT BACK TO 3HA FOR THE NIGHT. I WAS QUITE FATIGUED AS I HAD FLOWN IN FROM CALIFORNIA THE NIGHT PRIOR AND WAS ONLY ABLE TO GET 2 HRS SLEEP. THE ACFT HAD NON STANDARD COCKPIT LAYOUT. IT WAS AN EARLY MODEL AND I HAVE FLOWN IT ONLY 1.5 HRS BEFORE ATTEMPTING THE FERRY. MY PLAN WAS TO FLY TO 3HA VIA DIRECT DPA VOR, LGT VOR, DIRECT. MY FIRST MISTAKE CAME AFTER LEAVING 3CK. I CLBED TO 4000' MSL AND CALLED ORD FOR ADVISORIES AND HE INFORMED ME I WAS IN THE TCA AND THAT IF I DSNDED TO 3900' MSL I'D BE OK. I DID. AFTER REACHING DPA I TURNED TO 120 DEGS TO TRACK TO CGT AND I GOT ANOTHER CALL THAT I ENTERED THE TCA. I TURNED DUE S TO JOLIET, THEN E 3HA. I HAD A TCA CHART AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO USE IT. THE SECOND INCURSION I CAN ATTRIBUTE TO ALT. I WAS AT 3700' AND THE TCA SEGMENT CALLED FOR 3600' MSL. I ATTRIBUTE THIS PROB TO PLT FATIGUE, INSUFFICIENT FAMILIARITY WITH ACFT AND AREA. I MUST KEEP N MIND THAT NOT ONLY DOES THE ACFT NEED TO BE PREFLTED, SO DOES THE PLT--I KNEW BETTER.

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.