An small aircraft pilot and a TRACON controller disagreed on whether the aircraft had penetrated a T...

Attributes
ACN	210675
Time
Date	199205
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mmj
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6500 msl bound upper : 6500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pit
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 1130 flight time type : 35
ASRS Report	210675
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was flying small aircraft VFR from portland, me, to new philadelphia, oh, at 6500 ft MSL. My position was 46 DME east pittsburgh airport, montour VOR 112.0. The initial controller did not acknowledge my request for clearance to transit pit TCA. The second controller told me to contact 119.35. I did this at 36.9 DME east. Controller issued clearance to transit TCA, provided radar vectors, and also mentioned that when I called him (at 36 DME east) I was already in the TCA. He told me in the future to contact approach earlier for better handling of VFR requests. I believe the controller made a mistake saying I was in pit TCA. My DME was checked and verified accurate when flying over williamsport VOR 114.4 williamsport, PA, less than an hour before incident. Update pit terminal chart revealed TCA outer ring (between 4000-8000 ft MSL) extends to 30 NM. Being well past the 30 NM outer ring suggests emphatically that I was legally flying and breaking no FARS.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA PLT AND A TRACON CTLR DISAGREED ON WHETHER THE ACFT HAD PENETRATED A TCA WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING SMA VFR FROM PORTLAND, ME, TO NEW PHILADELPHIA, OH, AT 6500 FT MSL. MY POS WAS 46 DME E PITTSBURGH ARPT, MONTOUR VOR 112.0. THE INITIAL CTLR DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE MY REQUEST FOR CLRNC TO TRANSIT PIT TCA. THE SECOND CTLR TOLD ME TO CONTACT 119.35. I DID THIS AT 36.9 DME E. CTLR ISSUED CLRNC TO TRANSIT TCA, PROVIDED RADAR VECTORS, AND ALSO MENTIONED THAT WHEN I CALLED HIM (AT 36 DME E) I WAS ALREADY IN THE TCA. HE TOLD ME IN THE FUTURE TO CONTACT APCH EARLIER FOR BETTER HANDLING OF VFR REQUESTS. I BELIEVE THE CTLR MADE A MISTAKE SAYING I WAS IN PIT TCA. MY DME WAS CHKED AND VERIFIED ACCURATE WHEN FLYING OVER WILLIAMSPORT VOR 114.4 WILLIAMSPORT, PA, LESS THAN AN HOUR BEFORE INCIDENT. UPDATE PIT TERMINAL CHART REVEALED TCA OUTER RING (BTWN 4000-8000 FT MSL) EXTENDS TO 30 NM. BEING WELL PAST THE 30 NM OUTER RING SUGGESTS EMPHATICALLY THAT I WAS LEGALLY FLYING AND BREAKING NO FARS.

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.

An small aircraft pilot and a TRACON controller disagreed on whether the aircraft had penetrated a TCA without clearance.