A foreign pilot in an small aircraft asked for ATC help in avoiding the san TCA and was literally le...

Attributes
ACN	218382
Time
Date	199208
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mzb airport : sdm
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : san tower : cle
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 195 flight time type : 7
ASRS Report	218382
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I flew an small aircraft on 8/sat/92 from ral to sdm VFR. Departed ral around PM30 cruising altitude 7500 ft, tried to go east of san diego TCA. Approach instructed me to go west side of TCA and descend to 5500 ft as passing west of crq, off the shore. Below 125/88 sector approach told me to descend to 3500 ft to fly between 125/48 and 125/68 sectors. Approach also told me that radar service is terminated and contact approach 119.6 if necessary. As I flew below 125/48, I noticed I had to descend below 1800 ft in order to clear 125/18 sector. My heading should also suppose to keep me out of 125/sfc sector, west of san diego. However, I found out that my heading indicator was off by 20 degree and I realized I was in 125/sfc sector so, I immediately turned west to clear out of that sector and I tried to contact approach on 119.6 again. The approach told me to call back in 1 min. I circled for 1 min in 125/18 sector, recontacted and then they gave me the clearance and vector to browns field. I tried my best to avoid TCA after the radar service was terminated. I didn't expect san diego approach would cancel the radar service.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A FOREIGN PLT IN AN SMA ASKED FOR ATC HELP IN AVOIDING THE SAN TCA AND WAS LITERALLY LEFT OUT TO SEA.

Narrative: I FLEW AN SMA ON 8/SAT/92 FROM RAL TO SDM VFR. DEPARTED RAL AROUND PM30 CRUISING ALT 7500 FT, TRIED TO GO E OF SAN DIEGO TCA. APCH INSTRUCTED ME TO GO W SIDE OF TCA AND DSND TO 5500 FT AS PASSING W OF CRQ, OFF THE SHORE. BELOW 125/88 SECTOR APCH TOLD ME TO DSND TO 3500 FT TO FLY BTWN 125/48 AND 125/68 SECTORS. APCH ALSO TOLD ME THAT RADAR SVC IS TERMINATED AND CONTACT APCH 119.6 IF NECESSARY. AS I FLEW BELOW 125/48, I NOTICED I HAD TO DSND BELOW 1800 FT IN ORDER TO CLR 125/18 SECTOR. MY HDG SHOULD ALSO SUPPOSE TO KEEP ME OUT OF 125/SFC SECTOR, W OF SAN DIEGO. HOWEVER, I FOUND OUT THAT MY HDG INDICATOR WAS OFF BY 20 DEG AND I REALIZED I WAS IN 125/SFC SECTOR SO, I IMMEDIATELY TURNED W TO CLR OUT OF THAT SECTOR AND I TRIED TO CONTACT APCH ON 119.6 AGAIN. THE APCH TOLD ME TO CALL BACK IN 1 MIN. I CIRCLED FOR 1 MIN IN 125/18 SECTOR, RECONTACTED AND THEN THEY GAVE ME THE CLRNC AND VECTOR TO BROWNS FIELD. I TRIED MY BEST TO AVOID TCA AFTER THE RADAR SVC WAS TERMINATED. I DIDN'T EXPECT SAN DIEGO APCH WOULD CANCEL THE RADAR SVC.

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.

A foreign pilot in an small aircraft asked for ATC help in avoiding the san TCA and was literally left out to sea.