Operated in the VFR corridor without mode C equipment on board.

Attributes
ACN	85403
Time
Date	198804
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lax airport : smo
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4500 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time total : 600
ASRS Report	85403
Person 2
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

In 4/88, at approximately XX30 pacific time, I was PIC of an small aircraft and flew through the new corridor at 4500'. Upon landing at smo I was advised that I was in violation of the TCA as the plane does not have mode C. I have approximately 600 hours and an instrument rating. Earlier that same day I had contacted my former flight instrument to ask of the regulations re mode C through the corridor. He advised me that all I needed to do was squawk 1201 and all was well. When I called him back the following morning his memory suddenly improved and he remembered the mode C ruling which I had questioned him on the previous day. At the time of the corridor meetings in feb I was attending a national forensics meeting in philadelphia as I worked the cerritos disaster as a member of the la emergency forensics team. I am well aware of the hazards of flying in unauthorized airspace. I read the chart and noted the mode C requirement and questioned the legality of taking an small aircraft through the corridor and was advised by my friendly instrument that there was a grace period. The moral of the story is, don't trust anyone but the FAA, and then get it in writing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: OPERATED IN THE VFR CORRIDOR WITHOUT MODE C EQUIPMENT ON BOARD.

Narrative: IN 4/88, AT APPROX XX30 PACIFIC TIME, I WAS PIC OF AN SMA AND FLEW THROUGH THE NEW CORRIDOR AT 4500'. UPON LNDG AT SMO I WAS ADVISED THAT I WAS IN VIOLATION OF THE TCA AS THE PLANE DOES NOT HAVE MODE C. I HAVE APPROX 600 HRS AND AN INSTRUMENT RATING. EARLIER THAT SAME DAY I HAD CONTACTED MY FORMER FLT INSTR TO ASK OF THE REGS RE MODE C THROUGH THE CORRIDOR. HE ADVISED ME THAT ALL I NEEDED TO DO WAS SQUAWK 1201 AND ALL WAS WELL. WHEN I CALLED HIM BACK THE FOLLOWING MORNING HIS MEMORY SUDDENLY IMPROVED AND HE REMEMBERED THE MODE C RULING WHICH I HAD QUESTIONED HIM ON THE PREVIOUS DAY. AT THE TIME OF THE CORRIDOR MEETINGS IN FEB I WAS ATTENDING A NATL FORENSICS MEETING IN PHILADELPHIA AS I WORKED THE CERRITOS DISASTER AS A MEMBER OF THE LA EMER FORENSICS TEAM. I AM WELL AWARE OF THE HAZARDS OF FLYING IN UNAUTH AIRSPACE. I READ THE CHART AND NOTED THE MODE C REQUIREMENT AND QUESTIONED THE LEGALITY OF TAKING AN SMA THROUGH THE CORRIDOR AND WAS ADVISED BY MY FRIENDLY INSTR THAT THERE WAS A GRACE PERIOD. THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS, DON'T TRUST ANYONE BUT THE FAA, AND THEN GET IT IN WRITING.

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.