Possible TCA entry.

Attributes
ACN	95688
Time
Date	198810
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : 1v5
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : den
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 139 flight time total : 614 flight time type : 572
ASRS Report	95688
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I contacted flight service on the ground at boulder and they gave me a toll free number to get my IFR clearance. I called the number and they told me to depart VFR and contact denver approach 126.9 for clearance. I took off and flew south remaining clear of the TCA while contacting denver approach. He told me to remain VFR until he got my clearance, but to fly heading 150 degree at 8000'. That took me into the TCA before I got my IFR clearance. In retrospect I should have asked him if I were cleared to enter the TCA, but I did not. The question is whether I entered the TCA west/O a clearance. Callback conversation with reporter revealed following information. Reporter states filed report because not sure if violated TCA by not hearing specific words 'cleared through TCA.' counseled that since complying with controller instructions, no violation had occurred.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: POSSIBLE TCA ENTRY.

Narrative: I CONTACTED FLT SVC ON THE GND AT BOULDER AND THEY GAVE ME A TOLL FREE NUMBER TO GET MY IFR CLRNC. I CALLED THE NUMBER AND THEY TOLD ME TO DEPART VFR AND CONTACT DENVER APCH 126.9 FOR CLRNC. I TOOK OFF AND FLEW S REMAINING CLR OF THE TCA WHILE CONTACTING DENVER APCH. HE TOLD ME TO REMAIN VFR UNTIL HE GOT MY CLRNC, BUT TO FLY HDG 150 DEG AT 8000'. THAT TOOK ME INTO THE TCA BEFORE I GOT MY IFR CLRNC. IN RETROSPECT I SHOULD HAVE ASKED HIM IF I WERE CLRED TO ENTER THE TCA, BUT I DID NOT. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER I ENTERED THE TCA W/O A CLRNC. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED FOLLOWING INFO. RPTR STATES FILED RPT BECAUSE NOT SURE IF VIOLATED TCA BY NOT HEARING SPECIFIC WORDS 'CLRED THROUGH TCA.' COUNSELED THAT SINCE COMPLYING WITH CTLR INSTRUCTIONS, NO VIOLATION HAD OCCURRED.

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.