Student pilot returning from training flight failed to contact TRACON soon enough, penetrated TCA.

Attributes
ACN	81253
Time
Date	198801
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : las
State Reference	NV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : las
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : student
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 40 flight time type : 14
ASRS Report	81253
Person 2
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Training flight, aircraft transponder equipped but no mode C. CFI on board. En route from west practice area to mccarran international (A481), 20 mi out on 310 degree right, las VORTAC. Altitude 6000', airspeed 115 KTS (indicated). CFI would not permit student pilot to contact approach control, as she felt we were, 'too far out.' upon contacting approach control, was advised we had entered the TCA in violation of regulations. Violation occurred while at 6000'. Entered TCA at 90/45 layer. Factors: night, lackadaisical instruction, and pilot trusted CFI, who trusted memory as to TCA boundaries.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: STUDENT PLT RETURNING FROM TRAINING FLT FAILED TO CONTACT TRACON SOON ENOUGH, PENETRATED TCA.

Narrative: TRNING FLT, ACFT XPONDER EQUIPPED BUT NO MODE C. CFI ON BOARD. ENRTE FROM W PRACTICE AREA TO MCCARRAN INTL (A481), 20 MI OUT ON 310 DEG R, LAS VORTAC. ALT 6000', AIRSPD 115 KTS (INDICATED). CFI WOULD NOT PERMIT STUDENT PLT TO CONTACT APCH CTL, AS SHE FELT WE WERE, 'TOO FAR OUT.' UPON CONTACTING APCH CTL, WAS ADVISED WE HAD ENTERED THE TCA IN VIOLATION OF REGS. VIOLATION OCCURRED WHILE AT 6000'. ENTERED TCA AT 90/45 LAYER. FACTORS: NIGHT, LACKADAISICAL INSTRUCTION, AND PLT TRUSTED CFI, WHO TRUSTED MEMORY AS TO TCA BOUNDARIES.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.