GA small transport advised to stay clear of TCA. Then when advised approach of low fuel state, was c...

Attributes
ACN	92117
Time
Date	198808
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : las
State Reference	NV
Altitude	agl bound lower : 1500 agl bound upper : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : las tower : las
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 600 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	92117
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Inter Facility Coordination Failure other

Narrative:

I was flying en route from colorado springs, co, to mc carran field at las. I had obtained the ATIS information and subsequently contacted las approach control. I received a transponder code and was asked to identify while still outside the TCA. Approach control did not receive my transponder and I was asked to remain clear of the TCA until they picked me up. I was running low on fuel and therefore told approach this fact and asked to expedite a landing. Approach acknowledged, asked for my location and cleared me to approach runway 19. I subsequently entered the TCA and acknowledged a widebody transport on final. I called and asked approach if I was to be cleared to land after the widebody transport. I didn't receive an acknowledgement on this. I called again and was now 3-5 mi off the runway. Approach said they would call the tower and see if they had me in sight, which they did, and the tower then cleared me to land. The tower asked me to call upon shut down. The controller informed me I had penetrated the TCA west/O authorization. Naturally, I reiterated the aforementioned sequence. He stated he would inform GADO for any further dispensation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMT ADVISED TO STAY CLEAR OF TCA. THEN WHEN ADVISED APCH OF LOW FUEL STATE, WAS CLEARED INTO TCA BY APCH. LATER ACCUSED BY ATCT OF ENTERING TCA WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING ENRTE FROM COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, TO MC CARRAN FIELD AT LAS. I HAD OBTAINED THE ATIS INFO AND SUBSEQUENTLY CONTACTED LAS APCH CTL. I RECEIVED A TRANSPONDER CODE AND WAS ASKED TO IDENT WHILE STILL OUTSIDE THE TCA. APCH CTL DID NOT RECEIVE MY TRANSPONDER AND I WAS ASKED TO REMAIN CLR OF THE TCA UNTIL THEY PICKED ME UP. I WAS RUNNING LOW ON FUEL AND THEREFORE TOLD APCH THIS FACT AND ASKED TO EXPEDITE A LNDG. APCH ACKNOWLEDGED, ASKED FOR MY LOCATION AND CLRED ME TO APCH RWY 19. I SUBSEQUENTLY ENTERED THE TCA AND ACKNOWLEDGED A WDB ON FINAL. I CALLED AND ASKED APCH IF I WAS TO BE CLRED TO LAND AFTER THE WDB. I DIDN'T RECEIVE AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ON THIS. I CALLED AGAIN AND WAS NOW 3-5 MI OFF THE RWY. APCH SAID THEY WOULD CALL THE TWR AND SEE IF THEY HAD ME IN SIGHT, WHICH THEY DID, AND THE TWR THEN CLRED ME TO LAND. THE TWR ASKED ME TO CALL UPON SHUT DOWN. THE CTLR INFORMED ME I HAD PENETRATED THE TCA W/O AUTHORIZATION. NATURALLY, I REITERATED THE AFOREMENTIONED SEQUENCE. HE STATED HE WOULD INFORM GADO FOR ANY FURTHER DISPENSATION.

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.

GA small transport advised to stay clear of TCA. Then when advised approach of low fuel state, was cleared into TCA by approach. Later accused by ATCT of entering TCA without clearance.