Narrative:

I took off from frg airport on a composite flight plan. We opened the VFR flight plan, picked up the 290 degree radial off of CCC VOR, and tracked to it. About 20 mi from CCC, contacted new york FSS to get our IFR clearance, which started at CCC. We were told to contact new york approach on 118.0. We established 2-WAY communication and were given a transponder code. The controller could not find the IFR clearance. He instructed us to contact FSS again. Upon doing that, FSS told us to contact approach on 132.25. That controller told us to recontact 118.0, that the problem was solved. Upon contacting 118.0 again, the controller stated that we were in his airspace and that he was trying to contact us. The 290 degree radial is close but outside of class C airspace as depicted on the terminal area chart. Our VOR was checked in the preceding 30 days and in tolerance. The needle was dead center while tracking. Being that we established 2-WAY communication, I thought that would not be a problem. We did leave his frequency but he instructed us to do so. In going over the incident, I could only think that the controller did not expect us to enter class C airspace. If he did, he might not have told us to change frequencys at that time. In the future, I now know to keep a larger distance from anyone's airspace regardless of the method of navigation. Also, I will make sure I clarify my intention and ascertain if we are cleared into their airspace. Also, I will monitor approach if my plane has the capability.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WITH AN IFR CLRNC TO BE PICKED UP INFLT, A GA PLT IS PASSED BACK AND FORTH BTWN CTLRS WHEN ATC CANNOT FIND THE FILED FLT PLAN. THERE IS A DISAGREEMENT AS TO WHETHER OR NOT CLASS C AIRSPACE WAS ENTERED WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: I TOOK OFF FROM FRG ARPT ON A COMPOSITE FLT PLAN. WE OPENED THE VFR FLT PLAN, PICKED UP THE 290 DEG RADIAL OFF OF CCC VOR, AND TRACKED TO IT. ABOUT 20 MI FROM CCC, CONTACTED NEW YORK FSS TO GET OUR IFR CLRNC, WHICH STARTED AT CCC. WE WERE TOLD TO CONTACT NEW YORK APCH ON 118.0. WE ESTABLISHED 2-WAY COM AND WERE GIVEN A XPONDER CODE. THE CTLR COULD NOT FIND THE IFR CLRNC. HE INSTRUCTED US TO CONTACT FSS AGAIN. UPON DOING THAT, FSS TOLD US TO CONTACT APCH ON 132.25. THAT CTLR TOLD US TO RECONTACT 118.0, THAT THE PROB WAS SOLVED. UPON CONTACTING 118.0 AGAIN, THE CTLR STATED THAT WE WERE IN HIS AIRSPACE AND THAT HE WAS TRYING TO CONTACT US. THE 290 DEG RADIAL IS CLOSE BUT OUTSIDE OF CLASS C AIRSPACE AS DEPICTED ON THE TERMINAL AREA CHART. OUR VOR WAS CHKED IN THE PRECEDING 30 DAYS AND IN TOLERANCE. THE NEEDLE WAS DEAD CTR WHILE TRACKING. BEING THAT WE ESTABLISHED 2-WAY COM, I THOUGHT THAT WOULD NOT BE A PROB. WE DID LEAVE HIS FREQ BUT HE INSTRUCTED US TO DO SO. IN GOING OVER THE INCIDENT, I COULD ONLY THINK THAT THE CTLR DID NOT EXPECT US TO ENTER CLASS C AIRSPACE. IF HE DID, HE MIGHT NOT HAVE TOLD US TO CHANGE FREQS AT THAT TIME. IN THE FUTURE, I NOW KNOW TO KEEP A LARGER DISTANCE FROM ANYONE'S AIRSPACE REGARDLESS OF THE METHOD OF NAVIGATION. ALSO, I WILL MAKE SURE I CLARIFY MY INTENTION AND ASCERTAIN IF WE ARE CLRED INTO THEIR AIRSPACE. ALSO, I WILL MONITOR APCH IF MY PLANE HAS THE CAPABILITY.

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.