Possible TCA penetration.

Attributes
ACN	97145
Time
Date	198810
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bwi
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6500 msl bound upper : 6500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dca
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 175 flight time total : 5800 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	97145
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On 10/88, I may have penetrated the northwest corner of the dca TCA. In small transport, I departed bwi at approximately xaoo local VFR. I was handed off to dca approach while VFR at 6500. Dca approach took the handoff but, there was no specific 'cleared to enter the TCA' clearance. Callback conversation with reporter revealed following information. Reporter states he is not sure if he even penetrated TCA, maybe yes, maybe no. Major problem was that IFR flight plan had been lost so elected to depart VFR. This mixed IFR/VFR situation caused him not to ask for specific 'cleared through the TCA' phrase prior to receiving specific ATC instructions.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: POSSIBLE TCA PENETRATION.

Narrative: ON 10/88, I MAY HAVE PENETRATED THE NW CORNER OF THE DCA TCA. IN SMT, I DEPARTED BWI AT APPROX XAOO LCL VFR. I WAS HANDED OFF TO DCA APCH WHILE VFR AT 6500. DCA APCH TOOK THE HANDOFF BUT, THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC 'CLRED TO ENTER THE TCA' CLRNC. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED FOLLOWING INFO. RPTR STATES HE IS NOT SURE IF HE EVEN PENETRATED TCA, MAYBE YES, MAYBE NO. MAJOR PROB WAS THAT IFR FLT PLAN HAD BEEN LOST SO ELECTED TO DEPART VFR. THIS MIXED IFR/VFR SITUATION CAUSED HIM NOT TO ASK FOR SPECIFIC 'CLRED THROUGH THE TCA' PHRASE PRIOR TO RECEIVING SPECIFIC ATC INSTRUCTIONS.

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.