Atx small aircraft entered TCA at wrong altitude.

Attributes
ACN	83501
Time
Date	198803
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mkc
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5500 msl bound upper : 7500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mci
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 6600 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	83501
Person 2
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Contacted mkc approach outside TCA and at 7500' MSL. Was 'cleared to enter TCA, descend to and maintain 5500 while in the TCA' clearance was read back and about 30 seconds later just as I was beginning descent, approach called to advise you are 'only about a mile from TCA.' this was the first indication I had that approach expected me to be at 5500 before entering the TCA. I turned to heading 120 degree and don't think that I penetrated the boundary. ATC did not say that I had violated the TCA. Two causes. 1) the TCA graphics show 20 NM as TCA diameter but doesn't specify that this is centered on the airport (RNAV wpt would be required and is not given.) 2) ATC clearance lead me to think that he knew how close and at what altitude and G/south, hence time to the TCA. I was too close to be issued a clearance to enter 2000' lower. Four minutes and 14 miles needed for normal rates. I've learned to ask about a 'cleared to enter the TCA'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATX SMA ENTERED TCA AT WRONG ALT.

Narrative: CONTACTED MKC APCH OUTSIDE TCA AND AT 7500' MSL. WAS 'CLRED TO ENTER TCA, DESCEND TO AND MAINTAIN 5500 WHILE IN THE TCA' CLRNC WAS READ BACK AND ABOUT 30 SECONDS LATER JUST AS I WAS BEGINNING DESCENT, APCH CALLED TO ADVISE YOU ARE 'ONLY ABOUT A MILE FROM TCA.' THIS WAS THE FIRST INDICATION I HAD THAT APCH EXPECTED ME TO BE AT 5500 BEFORE ENTERING THE TCA. I TURNED TO HEADING 120 DEG AND DON'T THINK THAT I PENETRATED THE BOUNDARY. ATC DID NOT SAY THAT I HAD VIOLATED THE TCA. TWO CAUSES. 1) THE TCA GRAPHICS SHOW 20 NM AS TCA DIAMETER BUT DOESN'T SPECIFY THAT THIS IS CENTERED ON THE ARPT (RNAV WPT WOULD BE REQUIRED AND IS NOT GIVEN.) 2) ATC CLRNC LEAD ME TO THINK THAT HE KNEW HOW CLOSE AND AT WHAT ALT AND G/S, HENCE TIME TO THE TCA. I WAS TOO CLOSE TO BE ISSUED A CLRNC TO ENTER 2000' LOWER. FOUR MINUTES AND 14 MILES NEEDED FOR NORMAL RATES. I'VE LEARNED TO ASK ABOUT A 'CLRED TO ENTER THE TCA'

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.