Narrative:

On jun/wed/93 at approximately XA30Z, I was VFR at 4500 ft and was participating in VFR flight following with either ZNY or ny approach, having received a squawk code as we approached ny airspase from northeast to southwest. While in contact with the first ny air traffic controller, I requested clearance through the ny TCA at 4500 ft, direct jfk, direct colts neck, direct blm (alaire). This request was made at a distance well north of the TCA near the northern limit of the ny controller's airspace. The ny controller acknowledged my request and at that time my recollection is that he would try to work it out. I don't recall ny at that time or at any time prior to the TCA incursion advising me to remain clear of the TCA except as stated below. I also recall the controller advising me that direct blm was ok at that time, hence, I changed my LORAN identify from jfk to blm to fly an accurate heading. A brief time after this, I became concerned that I did not hear anything further from the ny controller so I contacted him to see if we were still with him. At this time he said that we were and that he had already issued me an instruction to contact another ny controller on another frequency and remain clear of the TCA. Since I did not hear that previous instruction and did not acknowledge it as the tape would reveal, my response was that I would contact the ny controller on the frequency that just advised me and would stay clear of the TCA as requested. The controller immediately came back and advised me that I was in the TCA and I should immediately contact ny controller on the other frequency, which I did. I immediately received the response from a gentlemen with a southern accent who was very kind and acknowledged that I was cleared at 4500 ft direct kennedy, direct colts neck. The flight through the TCA and to my destination went well and I appreciated the kindness of the latter controller who did not indicate to me that I would be reported for the TCA incursion nor did the previous ny controller indicate that he was going to report the TCA incursion.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF AN SMA SEL ACFT INADVERTENTLY PENETRATED A TCA DUE TO PLT MISUNDERSTANDING OF CTLR'S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE PLT'S REQUEST.

Narrative: ON JUN/WED/93 AT APPROX XA30Z, I WAS VFR AT 4500 FT AND WAS PARTICIPATING IN VFR FLT FOLLOWING WITH EITHER ZNY OR NY APCH, HAVING RECEIVED A SQUAWK CODE AS WE APCHED NY AIRSPASE FROM NE TO SW. WHILE IN CONTACT WITH THE FIRST NY AIR TFC CTLR, I REQUESTED CLRNC THROUGH THE NY TCA AT 4500 FT, DIRECT JFK, DIRECT COLTS NECK, DIRECT BLM (ALAIRE). THIS REQUEST WAS MADE AT A DISTANCE WELL N OF THE TCA NEAR THE NORTHERN LIMIT OF THE NY CTLR'S AIRSPACE. THE NY CTLR ACKNOWLEDGED MY REQUEST AND AT THAT TIME MY RECOLLECTION IS THAT HE WOULD TRY TO WORK IT OUT. I DON'T RECALL NY AT THAT TIME OR AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE TCA INCURSION ADVISING ME TO REMAIN CLR OF THE TCA EXCEPT AS STATED BELOW. I ALSO RECALL THE CTLR ADVISING ME THAT DIRECT BLM WAS OK AT THAT TIME, HENCE, I CHANGED MY LORAN IDENT FROM JFK TO BLM TO FLY AN ACCURATE HDG. A BRIEF TIME AFTER THIS, I BECAME CONCERNED THAT I DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING FURTHER FROM THE NY CTLR SO I CONTACTED HIM TO SEE IF WE WERE STILL WITH HIM. AT THIS TIME HE SAID THAT WE WERE AND THAT HE HAD ALREADY ISSUED ME AN INSTRUCTION TO CONTACT ANOTHER NY CTLR ON ANOTHER FREQ AND REMAIN CLR OF THE TCA. SINCE I DID NOT HEAR THAT PREVIOUS INSTRUCTION AND DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE IT AS THE TAPE WOULD REVEAL, MY RESPONSE WAS THAT I WOULD CONTACT THE NY CTLR ON THE FREQ THAT JUST ADVISED ME AND WOULD STAY CLR OF THE TCA AS REQUESTED. THE CTLR IMMEDIATELY CAME BACK AND ADVISED ME THAT I WAS IN THE TCA AND I SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CONTACT NY CTLR ON THE OTHER FREQ, WHICH I DID. I IMMEDIATELY RECEIVED THE RESPONSE FROM A GENTLEMEN WITH A SOUTHERN ACCENT WHO WAS VERY KIND AND ACKNOWLEDGED THAT I WAS CLRED AT 4500 FT DIRECT KENNEDY, DIRECT COLTS NECK. THE FLT THROUGH THE TCA AND TO MY DEST WENT WELL AND I APPRECIATED THE KINDNESS OF THE LATTER CTLR WHO DID NOT INDICATE TO ME THAT I WOULD BE RPTED FOR THE TCA INCURSION NOR DID THE PREVIOUS NY CTLR INDICATE THAT HE WAS GOING TO RPT THE TCA INCURSION.

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.