Unauthorized penetration of airspace. Proximity of TCA.

Attributes
ACN	246129
Time
Date	199307
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : iad
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8500 msl bound upper : 8500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : iad
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 18 flight time total : 800 flight time type : 325
ASRS Report	246129
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar oversight : supervisor
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Pilot was making a flight from new jersey to virginia using a previously prepared navigation chart. After clearing frederick, md, VOR, pilot tracked to casanova VOR. In checking prepared navigation data, pilot noted that dulles arsa had a ceiling of 4300 ft and continued on course at 8500 ft directly into the dulles TCA. Previous flts through the same area were at altitude under 1500 ft, so no violations were incurred. This time, WX conditions were such that a higher altitude was advantageous. Problem arose by pilot not checking current sectional or TCA chart against previously prepared navigation sequence. Problem was not discovered until landing at orange county, virginia airport and FBO advised ZDC was on phone and wanted to speak to pilot. They advised that aircraft had penetrated TCA at 8500 ft in a control area that had a ceiling of 10000 ft. Corrective action is that all flts into and about a TCA should be plotted for each departure with reference to current sectionals or TCA charts. If previously prepared navigation sequence is to be used, it should carefully be checked against current charts. Pilot should have followed the above, but he assumed data to be current through complacency.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNAUTH PENETRATION OF AIRSPACE. PROX OF TCA.

Narrative: PLT WAS MAKING A FLT FROM NEW JERSEY TO VIRGINIA USING A PREVIOUSLY PREPARED NAV CHART. AFTER CLRING FREDERICK, MD, VOR, PLT TRACKED TO CASANOVA VOR. IN CHKING PREPARED NAV DATA, PLT NOTED THAT DULLES ARSA HAD A CEILING OF 4300 FT AND CONTINUED ON COURSE AT 8500 FT DIRECTLY INTO THE DULLES TCA. PREVIOUS FLTS THROUGH THE SAME AREA WERE AT ALT UNDER 1500 FT, SO NO VIOLATIONS WERE INCURRED. THIS TIME, WX CONDITIONS WERE SUCH THAT A HIGHER ALT WAS ADVANTAGEOUS. PROB AROSE BY PLT NOT CHKING CURRENT SECTIONAL OR TCA CHART AGAINST PREVIOUSLY PREPARED NAV SEQUENCE. PROB WAS NOT DISCOVERED UNTIL LNDG AT ORANGE COUNTY, VIRGINIA ARPT AND FBO ADVISED ZDC WAS ON PHONE AND WANTED TO SPEAK TO PLT. THEY ADVISED THAT ACFT HAD PENETRATED TCA AT 8500 FT IN A CTL AREA THAT HAD A CEILING OF 10000 FT. CORRECTIVE ACTION IS THAT ALL FLTS INTO AND ABOUT A TCA SHOULD BE PLOTTED FOR EACH DEP WITH REF TO CURRENT SECTIONALS OR TCA CHARTS. IF PREVIOUSLY PREPARED NAV SEQUENCE IS TO BE USED, IT SHOULD CAREFULLY BE CHKED AGAINST CURRENT CHARTS. PLT SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED THE ABOVE, BUT HE ASSUMED DATA TO BE CURRENT THROUGH COMPLACENCY.

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.