GA small aircraft unauthorized penetration TCA.

Attributes
ACN	88749
Time
Date	198806
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : oak airport : pao
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2100 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oak
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	approach : svfr approach : visual
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 4 flight time total : 160 flight time type : 160
ASRS Report	88749
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

VFR flight from pao to 001 (santa rosa air center) filed VFR flight plan. Off pao contacted bay approach for 'VFR transition at 3000' pao to santa rosa' contacted wrong frequency and was given another. Frequency was busy, I was nearing hayward air traffic area and continued to climb. Repeated request with control. He replied 'maintain VFR clear sfo TCA' which I took to mean cleared (through the) sfo TCA. So I kept climbing to 3000 (my requested altitude) abeam hayward controller gave traffic and requested atl - when I gave him 3000 he told me I was in the TCA and he had told me to stay clear of the TCA. I had obviously made his job tougher - he then issued a clearance into the TCA and vectors and instructions. At time for handoff he repeated a stern warning that he had told me to stay clear of the TCA. I thanked and proceeded normally. I am sure he resented me 'barging' into the TCA. Due to frequency congestion I later realized that I had not activated my flight plan. This was my second time to transition oak arsa to the north. I now understand to stay outside the 80/21 F sector, but above hay air traffic area. It may have been better radio comm. For the controller to say 'remain VFR and outside the TCA', however this may not be standard term. My inexperience led me to misunderstand his comm.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA UNAUTH PENETRATION TCA.

Narrative: VFR FLT FROM PAO TO 001 (SANTA ROSA AIR CENTER) FILED VFR FLT PLAN. OFF PAO CONTACTED BAY APCH FOR 'VFR TRANSITION AT 3000' PAO TO SANTA ROSA' CONTACTED WRONG FREQ AND WAS GIVEN ANOTHER. FREQ WAS BUSY, I WAS NEARING HAYWARD ATA AND CONTINUED TO CLIMB. REPEATED REQUEST WITH CTL. HE REPLIED 'MAINTAIN VFR CLEAR SFO TCA' WHICH I TOOK TO MEAN CLRED (THROUGH THE) SFO TCA. SO I KEPT CLIMBING TO 3000 (MY REQUESTED ALT) ABEAM HAYWARD CTLR GAVE TFC AND REQUESTED ATL - WHEN I GAVE HIM 3000 HE TOLD ME I WAS IN THE TCA AND HE HAD TOLD ME TO STAY CLEAR OF THE TCA. I HAD OBVIOUSLY MADE HIS JOB TOUGHER - HE THEN ISSUED A CLRNC INTO THE TCA AND VECTORS AND INSTRUCTIONS. AT TIME FOR HANDOFF HE REPEATED A STERN WARNING THAT HE HAD TOLD ME TO STAY CLEAR OF THE TCA. I THANKED AND PROCEEDED NORMALLY. I AM SURE HE RESENTED ME 'BARGING' INTO THE TCA. DUE TO FREQ CONGESTION I LATER REALIZED THAT I HAD NOT ACTIVATED MY FLT PLAN. THIS WAS MY SECOND TIME TO TRANSITION OAK ARSA TO THE NORTH. I NOW UNDERSTAND TO STAY OUTSIDE THE 80/21 F SECTOR, BUT ABOVE HAY ATA. IT MAY HAVE BEEN BETTER RADIO COMM. FOR THE CTLR TO SAY 'REMAIN VFR AND OUTSIDE THE TCA', HOWEVER THIS MAY NOT BE STANDARD TERM. MY INEXPERIENCE LED ME TO MISUNDERSTAND HIS COMM.

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.