Small aircraft pilot penetrated TCA.

Attributes
ACN	88187
Time
Date	198805
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fgt
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : msp tower : sfo
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 52 flight time total : 132
ASRS Report	88187
Person 2
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was departing stp to fly direct farmington VORTAC and practice holding procedures on the 270 degree right. I requested from stp tower a VFR squawk. Upon 2-WAY communications with msp approach, I was cleared to 3000' direct farmington. At this point I was under the hood flying instruments with a safety pilot watching for traffic. My problem was I had misinterpreted the VOR needle deflection. I was interpreting reverse needle deflection. In the process I believe I penetrated the TCA. I believe the penetration occurred since the controller told me with a sharp sounding voice to turn south immediately. I was very concerned with the mistake I had possibly made. I came up with cause of the mistake promptly. First of all it was not wise to fly so close to the TCA by instruments alone considering my low amount of instrument experience. Secondly, my safety pilot did not have much night experience over the minneapolis-st paul area. I feel these are the most important reasons leading to my mistake. I have learned a great deal from this unfortunate situation and I will, to the best of my abilities, handle this professionally and make the needed corrections so this and any similar errors do not occur in the future in my career.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT PENETRATED TCA.

Narrative: I WAS DEPARTING STP TO FLY DIRECT FARMINGTON VORTAC AND PRACTICE HOLDING PROCS ON THE 270 DEG R. I REQUESTED FROM STP TWR A VFR SQUAWK. UPON 2-WAY COMS WITH MSP APCH, I WAS CLRED TO 3000' DIRECT FARMINGTON. AT THIS POINT I WAS UNDER THE HOOD FLYING INSTRUMENTS WITH A SAFETY PLT WATCHING FOR TFC. MY PROB WAS I HAD MISINTERPRETED THE VOR NEEDLE DEFLECTION. I WAS INTERPRETING REVERSE NEEDLE DEFLECTION. IN THE PROCESS I BELIEVE I PENETRATED THE TCA. I BELIEVE THE PENETRATION OCCURRED SINCE THE CTLR TOLD ME WITH A SHARP SOUNDING VOICE TO TURN S IMMEDIATELY. I WAS VERY CONCERNED WITH THE MISTAKE I HAD POSSIBLY MADE. I CAME UP WITH CAUSE OF THE MISTAKE PROMPTLY. FIRST OF ALL IT WAS NOT WISE TO FLY SO CLOSE TO THE TCA BY INSTRUMENTS ALONE CONSIDERING MY LOW AMOUNT OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE. SECONDLY, MY SAFETY PLT DID NOT HAVE MUCH NIGHT EXPERIENCE OVER THE MINNEAPOLIS-ST PAUL AREA. I FEEL THESE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT REASONS LEADING TO MY MISTAKE. I HAVE LEARNED A GREAT DEAL FROM THIS UNFORTUNATE SITUATION AND I WILL, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES, HANDLE THIS PROFESSIONALLY AND MAKE THE NEEDED CORRECTIONS SO THIS AND ANY SIMILAR ERRORS DO NOT OCCUR IN THE FUTURE IN MY CAREER.

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.