A C172 pilot did not set his transponder properly in evv's airspace.

Attributes
ACN	517590
Time
Date	200107
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : evv.airport
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : vfr
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 330 flight time type : 175
ASRS Report	517590
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory
Miss Distance	horizontal : 7500 vertical : 1000
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

After being cleared for takeoff on evv runway 36, I turned mode C transponder to 'on' position instead of 'altitude' position. My VFR clearance was to maintain runway heading and remain at or below 2000 ft MSL. After being handed off to departure (2 mins into flight), I was given discretion on altitude. I acknowledged that 'altitude my discretion' and proceeded to climb to 3500 ft MSL. Shortly thereafter (about 5 mins into flight) I was told to turn on course (040 degrees). At about this point ATC requested altitude and notified me they didn't have mode C. I switched transponder to 'altitude' and reported my altitude at 3500 ft. ATC then issued TA about 2 mi descending through 4500 ft. Traffic was not a factor. However, after analyzing the chain of events, I believe that the controller's correction of my errors was key in breaking a chain that could have had a much worse outcome. I should have had the transponder on 'altitude' and should have reported my intention to climb to 3500 ft after given discretion. An added factor was a rushed run-up and takeoff preparation. I should have been more deliberate with my pre-takeoff checklist, making sure my transponder was set properly.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C172 PLT DID NOT SET HIS XPONDER PROPERLY IN EVV'S AIRSPACE.

Narrative: AFTER BEING CLRED FOR TKOF ON EVV RWY 36, I TURNED MODE C XPONDER TO 'ON' POS INSTEAD OF 'ALT' POS. MY VFR CLRNC WAS TO MAINTAIN RWY HEADING AND REMAIN AT OR BELOW 2000 FT MSL. AFTER BEING HANDED OFF TO DEP (2 MINS INTO FLT), I WAS GIVEN DISCRETION ON ALT. I ACKNOWLEDGED THAT 'ALT MY DISCRETION' AND PROCEEDED TO CLB TO 3500 FT MSL. SHORTLY THEREAFTER (ABOUT 5 MINS INTO FLT) I WAS TOLD TO TURN ON COURSE (040 DEGS). AT ABOUT THIS POINT ATC REQUESTED ALT AND NOTIFIED ME THEY DIDN'T HAVE MODE C. I SWITCHED XPONDER TO 'ALT' AND RPTED MY ALT AT 3500 FT. ATC THEN ISSUED TA ABOUT 2 MI DSNDING THROUGH 4500 FT. TFC WAS NOT A FACTOR. HOWEVER, AFTER ANALYZING THE CHAIN OF EVENTS, I BELIEVE THAT THE CTLR'S CORRECTION OF MY ERRORS WAS KEY IN BREAKING A CHAIN THAT COULD HAVE HAD A MUCH WORSE OUTCOME. I SHOULD HAVE HAD THE XPONDER ON 'ALT' AND SHOULD HAVE RPTED MY INTENTION TO CLB TO 3500 FT AFTER GIVEN DISCRETION. AN ADDED FACTOR WAS A RUSHED RUN-UP AND TKOF PREPARATION. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE DELIBERATE WITH MY PRE-TKOF CHKLIST, MAKING SURE MY XPONDER WAS SET PROPERLY.

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.