Pilot unsure frequency transfers back and forth. Enters TCA without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	189548
Time
Date	199109
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mco
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mco
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	189548
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 : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Proceeding on VFR flight plan to patrick AFB, 3500 ft, crossed ocala and turned to heading of patrick AFB. Called orlando executive and could not receive clearly. Called flight following and advised en route to patrick AFB and requested frequency for contact, unable to raise patrick approach control. Returned to en route frequency and advised had returned to their channel and would remain on same frequency for 45 more mins, squawking 1200 (aircraft had altitude IFF). En route visually acquired orlando international ahead. Called tower and requested orlando control frequency, obtained and called. Advised I was 5 mi west and they changed IFF and advised was then within TCA. Continued vector across field at 34500 ft and later advised contact patrick on new frequency. This incident would have been prevented had pilot written down all required frequencys prior to takeoff. Further, should have turned west and remained out of TCA until cleared into TCA. Pilot should have completed homework and not relied upon flight following to pass along required information.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT UNSURE FREQ TRANSFERS BACK AND FORTH. ENTERS TCA WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: PROCEEDING ON VFR FLT PLAN TO PATRICK AFB, 3500 FT, CROSSED OCALA AND TURNED TO HDG OF PATRICK AFB. CALLED ORLANDO EXECUTIVE AND COULD NOT RECEIVE CLRLY. CALLED FLT FOLLOWING AND ADVISED ENRTE TO PATRICK AFB AND REQUESTED FREQ FOR CONTACT, UNABLE TO RAISE PATRICK APCH CTL. RETURNED TO ENRTE FREQ AND ADVISED HAD RETURNED TO THEIR CHANNEL AND WOULD REMAIN ON SAME FREQ FOR 45 MORE MINS, SQUAWKING 1200 (ACFT HAD ALT IFF). ENRTE VISUALLY ACQUIRED ORLANDO INTL AHEAD. CALLED TWR AND REQUESTED ORLANDO CTL FREQ, OBTAINED AND CALLED. ADVISED I WAS 5 MI W AND THEY CHANGED IFF AND ADVISED WAS THEN WITHIN TCA. CONTINUED VECTOR ACROSS FIELD AT 34500 FT AND LATER ADVISED CONTACT PATRICK ON NEW FREQ. THIS INCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED HAD PLT WRITTEN DOWN ALL REQUIRED FREQS PRIOR TO TKOF. FURTHER, SHOULD HAVE TURNED W AND REMAINED OUT OF TCA UNTIL CLRED INTO TCA. PLT SHOULD HAVE COMPLETED HOMEWORK AND NOT RELIED UPON FLT FOLLOWING TO PASS ALONG REQUIRED INFO.

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.