TCA penetration without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	85836
Time
Date	198804
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mmu
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 200 flight time type : 20
ASRS Report	85836
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:

On return from pleasure cruise to sc to ny, decided on VFR. Flight down had been IFR and it was nice to be able to see scenery. I was in contact with ATC throughout for VFR traffic advisories. When passed from phl approach/departure area, tried to contact ny, who was very busy and rejecting VFR requests, suggesting a call back in 5 mins. Upon retry, I found him still busy and now had clipped the TCA before flying under. Then I violated morristown airspace (under the TCA) and tried flying at exactly 7000' MSL, just above morristown traffic area but lower limit of ny TCA. I am embarrassed as I write this. At no point did I consider deviating the 1 mi necessary to go around the traffic area and TCA. I had been working hard on my IFR certificate for 6 months and during that time would never tolerate more than 2 dots on the VOR. There I was, VFR, no flight plan, but I was hypnotized by the VOR. I had to stay on the arwy! I actually cheated a bit, 2 dots, to get as far from the airport as possible, but never considered altering course!! Advice to others: when flying VFR after extended periods of IFR flight plans, remember that you aren't in the system and that airspace must be requested at times. (In rereading about TCA's, I learned that even if I had contacted ny TCA, I would have to request transition through TCA. It is not automatic as with IFR.)

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TCA PENETRATION WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: ON RETURN FROM PLEASURE CRUISE TO SC TO NY, DECIDED ON VFR. FLT DOWN HAD BEEN IFR AND IT WAS NICE TO BE ABLE TO SEE SCENERY. I WAS IN CONTACT WITH ATC THROUGHOUT FOR VFR TFC ADVISORIES. WHEN PASSED FROM PHL APCH/DEP AREA, TRIED TO CONTACT NY, WHO WAS VERY BUSY AND REJECTING VFR REQUESTS, SUGGESTING A CALL BACK IN 5 MINS. UPON RETRY, I FOUND HIM STILL BUSY AND NOW HAD CLIPPED THE TCA BEFORE FLYING UNDER. THEN I VIOLATED MORRISTOWN AIRSPACE (UNDER THE TCA) AND TRIED FLYING AT EXACTLY 7000' MSL, JUST ABOVE MORRISTOWN TFC AREA BUT LOWER LIMIT OF NY TCA. I AM EMBARRASSED AS I WRITE THIS. AT NO POINT DID I CONSIDER DEVIATING THE 1 MI NECESSARY TO GO AROUND THE TFC AREA AND TCA. I HAD BEEN WORKING HARD ON MY IFR CERTIFICATE FOR 6 MONTHS AND DURING THAT TIME WOULD NEVER TOLERATE MORE THAN 2 DOTS ON THE VOR. THERE I WAS, VFR, NO FLT PLAN, BUT I WAS HYPNOTIZED BY THE VOR. I HAD TO STAY ON THE ARWY! I ACTUALLY CHEATED A BIT, 2 DOTS, TO GET AS FAR FROM THE ARPT AS POSSIBLE, BUT NEVER CONSIDERED ALTERING COURSE!! ADVICE TO OTHERS: WHEN FLYING VFR AFTER EXTENDED PERIODS OF IFR FLT PLANS, REMEMBER THAT YOU AREN'T IN THE SYS AND THAT AIRSPACE MUST BE REQUESTED AT TIMES. (IN REREADING ABOUT TCA'S, I LEARNED THAT EVEN IF I HAD CONTACTED NY TCA, I WOULD HAVE TO REQUEST TRANSITION THROUGH TCA. IT IS NOT AUTOMATIC AS WITH IFR.)

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.