Penetrated the TCA without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	84836
Time
Date	198804
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mzb
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : san
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 88 flight time total : 503 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	84836
Person 2
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was on a photo flight beneath the TCA at 1500'. I needed to go through the VFR corridor and get a TCA clearance on the south side of the corridor. I contacted approach and asked him if I could get a clearance. He said to climb to 3500' and use the VFR corridor and contact lindbergh tower. I began to climb and get to 2500', where I think I may have been in the TCA. I may have been under the TCA where the floor is 1800', and thus when climbing to 2500' on the way to 3500', violated their airspace. What could be done to avoid this in the future: I know controllers are busy, but so is the pilot, especially when on a photo flight in and around a TCA. Perhaps the controller could be careful not to give directions that could lead you into the TCA. In fact, perhaps he could give you a warning if you were about to enter the TCA. It would be a lot easier for him, considering the fact that he has you on radar and has the TCA clearly indicated on his radar screen.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PENETRATED THE TCA WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: I WAS ON A PHOTO FLT BENEATH THE TCA AT 1500'. I NEEDED TO GO THROUGH THE VFR CORRIDOR AND GET A TCA CLRNC ON THE S SIDE OF THE CORRIDOR. I CONTACTED APCH AND ASKED HIM IF I COULD GET A CLRNC. HE SAID TO CLB TO 3500' AND USE THE VFR CORRIDOR AND CONTACT LINDBERGH TWR. I BEGAN TO CLB AND GET TO 2500', WHERE I THINK I MAY HAVE BEEN IN THE TCA. I MAY HAVE BEEN UNDER THE TCA WHERE THE FLOOR IS 1800', AND THUS WHEN CLBING TO 2500' ON THE WAY TO 3500', VIOLATED THEIR AIRSPACE. WHAT COULD BE DONE TO AVOID THIS IN THE FUTURE: I KNOW CTLRS ARE BUSY, BUT SO IS THE PLT, ESPECIALLY WHEN ON A PHOTO FLT IN AND AROUND A TCA. PERHAPS THE CTLR COULD BE CAREFUL NOT TO GIVE DIRECTIONS THAT COULD LEAD YOU INTO THE TCA. IN FACT, PERHAPS HE COULD GIVE YOU A WARNING IF YOU WERE ABOUT TO ENTER THE TCA. IT WOULD BE A LOT EASIER FOR HIM, CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT HE HAS YOU ON RADAR AND HAS THE TCA CLEARLY INDICATED ON HIS RADAR SCREEN.

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.