Narrative:

I was operating VFR from bader field, atlantic city, flying an small aircraft. I climbed to 4500' MSL and proceeded northwest to my destination and home base of abe. Contacted phl approach control on 119.65 MHZ to obtain clearance through the phl TCA. At approximately 20 mi southeast of phl I was initially advised of numerous targets and heard what I believed was a clearance to transit the TCA at 4500' nwbnd. To be sure of what I heard I repeated, to the best of my recollection, 'understand cleared through the TCA?' I then heard what I thought was a 'roger' to this request and proceeded on my way. Had I not been cleared through the TCA I would have gone around or below avoiding the airspace as obligated to do. At approximately 4 mi southeast of the northeast philadelphia I observed an medium large transport climbing ahead and above me approximately 4 mi distance and approximately 1500' above. Hearing the controller working other aircraft, I volunteered that I had the 'medium large transport in sight, no factor.' the controller responded 'who is this?' I idented myself. The controller said, 'what is your position?' I said, '4 mi southeast pne, 4500' as cleared through the TCA.' the controller responded, 'I did not clear you into the TCA.' I replied, 'I read it back to you!' he again asked identification and base and I told him, proceeded on course with no further conversation until I signed off clear nwbnd. I think perhaps the age of the aircraft and radios may have played a part in this. Certainly non stop instructions could be considered. Instructions, directions, more controled airspace, do not lend to the ease of transit in the congested northeast united states. It soon may be necessary to file IFR everywhere.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ERRONEOUS PENETRATION OF TCA.

Narrative: I WAS OPERATING VFR FROM BADER FIELD, ATLANTIC CITY, FLYING AN SMA. I CLBED TO 4500' MSL AND PROCEEDED NW TO MY DEST AND HOME BASE OF ABE. CONTACTED PHL APCH CTL ON 119.65 MHZ TO OBTAIN CLRNC THROUGH THE PHL TCA. AT APPROX 20 MI SE OF PHL I WAS INITIALLY ADVISED OF NUMEROUS TARGETS AND HEARD WHAT I BELIEVED WAS A CLRNC TO TRANSIT THE TCA AT 4500' NWBND. TO BE SURE OF WHAT I HEARD I REPEATED, TO THE BEST OF MY RECOLLECTION, 'UNDERSTAND CLRED THROUGH THE TCA?' I THEN HEARD WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A 'ROGER' TO THIS REQUEST AND PROCEEDED ON MY WAY. HAD I NOT BEEN CLRED THROUGH THE TCA I WOULD HAVE GONE AROUND OR BELOW AVOIDING THE AIRSPACE AS OBLIGATED TO DO. AT APPROX 4 MI SE OF THE NE PHILADELPHIA I OBSERVED AN MLG CLBING AHEAD AND ABOVE ME APPROX 4 MI DISTANCE AND APPROX 1500' ABOVE. HEARING THE CTLR WORKING OTHER ACFT, I VOLUNTEERED THAT I HAD THE 'MLG IN SIGHT, NO FACTOR.' THE CTLR RESPONDED 'WHO IS THIS?' I IDENTED MYSELF. THE CTLR SAID, 'WHAT IS YOUR POS?' I SAID, '4 MI SE PNE, 4500' AS CLRED THROUGH THE TCA.' THE CTLR RESPONDED, 'I DID NOT CLR YOU INTO THE TCA.' I REPLIED, 'I READ IT BACK TO YOU!' HE AGAIN ASKED ID AND BASE AND I TOLD HIM, PROCEEDED ON COURSE WITH NO FURTHER CONVERSATION UNTIL I SIGNED OFF CLEAR NWBND. I THINK PERHAPS THE AGE OF THE ACFT AND RADIOS MAY HAVE PLAYED A PART IN THIS. CERTAINLY NON STOP INSTRUCTIONS COULD BE CONSIDERED. INSTRUCTIONS, DIRECTIONS, MORE CTLED AIRSPACE, DO NOT LEND TO THE EASE OF TRANSIT IN THE CONGESTED NE UNITED STATES. IT SOON MAY BE NECESSARY TO FILE IFR EVERYWHERE.

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.