Small aircraft pilot enters 30 mi veil of TCA without an operative transponder.

Attributes
ACN	183936
Time
Date	199107
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sea airport : tiw
State Reference	WA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sea
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 550 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	183936
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Due to inoperative mode-C, I flew within 30 DME TCA veil without waiver, destination tacoma narrows. Was instructed to continue to tacoma narrows, land, and call airport manager. Landed at narrows, called phone number given, answered by controller, who simply said get mode-C fixed. Didn't need waiver for VFR trip direct auburn municipal, within 30 NM veil at seattle that afternoon.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT ENTERS 30 MI VEIL OF TCA WITHOUT AN OPERATIVE XPONDER.

Narrative: DUE TO INOP MODE-C, I FLEW WITHIN 30 DME TCA VEIL WITHOUT WAIVER, DEST TACOMA NARROWS. WAS INSTRUCTED TO CONTINUE TO TACOMA NARROWS, LAND, AND CALL ARPT MGR. LANDED AT NARROWS, CALLED PHONE NUMBER GIVEN, ANSWERED BY CTLR, WHO SIMPLY SAID GET MODE-C FIXED. DIDN'T NEED WAIVER FOR VFR TRIP DIRECT AUBURN MUNI, WITHIN 30 NM VEIL AT SEATTLE THAT AFTERNOON.

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.