Small transport entr sfo TCA. Had been told to remain clear.

Attributes
ACN	96488
Time
Date	198810
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hwd airport : oak
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 3700 agl bound upper : 3700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oak
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 190 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 190
ASRS Report	96488
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While inbound to oak from rno while under stage ii/III services upon handoff from 'stockton approach' to 'bay approach' was instructed, 'remain clear of TCA. Turn left heading 180 degree.' then was given more headings to fly in order to reach oakland airport runway 29. Through course of flight, communication with ATC I was given vectors to '10 mi final' (runway 29) or join over hayward airport. I proceeded to join '10 mi final' for runway 29. Upon approach to oak, controller asked 'verify altitude,' and I did (3700'). Then he stated, 'floor TCA in your area 3000'. Then instructed me to change to tower. I feel that while following his instructions, I wasn't given clear enough information or altitude advisories and was not sure through all vectors what our TCA status was. After the first few vectors, I thought that we were being placed in TCA airspace by said controller and operated accordingly. As of this time, I'm still not sure what the controller stated when he advised 'floor TCA in your area 3000'. Was he simply giving me information or was it a subtle indication of 'not cleared into TCA but in TCA.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT ENTR SFO TCA. HAD BEEN TOLD TO REMAIN CLEAR.

Narrative: WHILE INBND TO OAK FROM RNO WHILE UNDER STAGE II/III SVCS UPON HDOF FROM 'STOCKTON APCH' TO 'BAY APCH' WAS INSTRUCTED, 'REMAIN CLR OF TCA. TURN LEFT HDG 180 DEG.' THEN WAS GIVEN MORE HDGS TO FLY IN ORDER TO REACH OAKLAND ARPT RWY 29. THROUGH COURSE OF FLT, COM WITH ATC I WAS GIVEN VECTORS TO '10 MI FINAL' (RWY 29) OR JOIN OVER HAYWARD ARPT. I PROCEEDED TO JOIN '10 MI FINAL' FOR RWY 29. UPON APCH TO OAK, CTLR ASKED 'VERIFY ALT,' AND I DID (3700'). THEN HE STATED, 'FLOOR TCA IN YOUR AREA 3000'. THEN INSTRUCTED ME TO CHANGE TO TWR. I FEEL THAT WHILE FOLLOWING HIS INSTRUCTIONS, I WASN'T GIVEN CLR ENOUGH INFO OR ALT ADVISORIES AND WAS NOT SURE THROUGH ALL VECTORS WHAT OUR TCA STATUS WAS. AFTER THE FIRST FEW VECTORS, I THOUGHT THAT WE WERE BEING PLACED IN TCA AIRSPACE BY SAID CTLR AND OPERATED ACCORDINGLY. AS OF THIS TIME, I'M STILL NOT SURE WHAT THE CTLR STATED WHEN HE ADVISED 'FLOOR TCA IN YOUR AREA 3000'. WAS HE SIMPLY GIVING ME INFO OR WAS IT A SUBTLE INDICATION OF 'NOT CLRED INTO TCA BUT IN TCA.'

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.