Penetration of TCA, pilot descends.

Attributes
ACN	190438
Time
Date	199109
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mxe
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 1900
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phl tracon : ory
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 200 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	190438
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented 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:

Departed pne for dca. Navigating pne direct mxe. Approximately 10 mins into the flight tuned in phl DME (109.3) and realized I was 9.5 mi from phl at 1900 ft. This put me in the TCA. I immediately turned north and descended to 1400 MSL. After clearing TCA I resumed on course. On the return trip (from dca to pne) I contacted philadelphia approach and received a TCA clearance approximately 20 mi southwest of mxe. Phl was unable to hand me over to another sector and asked me to descend to 2500 to put me below the TCA. Upon reaching 2500 I was released from philadelphia approach, told to squawk 1200 and proceed direct to pne. I checked the DME and it was 9.5 mi. This would put me inside the 11 mi ring of the TCA. I called the controller back and asked him if he showed me in the TCA. He said no but when I told him I was passing south of a group of tv towers that I knew were inside the 11 mi ring, he said he thought I would proceed on a heading of 40 degree not 60 degree direct to pne. (60 degree was the direct heading.) both controllers and pilots should strictly adhere to the TCA boundaries. This will avoid gray areas.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PENETRATION OF TCA, PLT DSNDS.

Narrative: DEPARTED PNE FOR DCA. NAVING PNE DIRECT MXE. APPROX 10 MINS INTO THE FLT TUNED IN PHL DME (109.3) AND REALIZED I WAS 9.5 MI FROM PHL AT 1900 FT. THIS PUT ME IN THE TCA. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED N AND DSNDED TO 1400 MSL. AFTER CLRING TCA I RESUMED ON COURSE. ON THE RETURN TRIP (FROM DCA TO PNE) I CONTACTED PHILADELPHIA APCH AND RECEIVED A TCA CLRNC APPROX 20 MI SW OF MXE. PHL WAS UNABLE TO HAND ME OVER TO ANOTHER SECTOR AND ASKED ME TO DSND TO 2500 TO PUT ME BELOW THE TCA. UPON REACHING 2500 I WAS RELEASED FROM PHILADELPHIA APCH, TOLD TO SQUAWK 1200 AND PROCEED DIRECT TO PNE. I CHKED THE DME AND IT WAS 9.5 MI. THIS WOULD PUT ME INSIDE THE 11 MI RING OF THE TCA. I CALLED THE CTLR BACK AND ASKED HIM IF HE SHOWED ME IN THE TCA. HE SAID NO BUT WHEN I TOLD HIM I WAS PASSING S OF A GROUP OF TV TWRS THAT I KNEW WERE INSIDE THE 11 MI RING, HE SAID HE THOUGHT I WOULD PROCEED ON A HDG OF 40 DEG NOT 60 DEG DIRECT TO PNE. (60 DEG WAS THE DIRECT HDG.) BOTH CTLRS AND PLTS SHOULD STRICTLY ADHERE TO THE TCA BOUNDARIES. THIS WILL AVOID GRAY AREAS.

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.