Flight entered a TCA without ATC clearance.

Attributes
ACN	110785
Time
Date	198905
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : cle
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : cle
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 100 flight time type : 10
ASRS Report	110785
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : exited penetrated airspace flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was en route on a 5 hour, VFR x-country flight. I just departed from my base airport and was setting up for my flight. I called cle FSS to activate my flight plan. I set up both of my VOR's for my first chkpoint, and I was visually checking outside to make sure that I wouldn't violate the akron arsa. There was some moderate turbulence, visibility was about 5-7 mi in haze and the ceilings were low. I was in a hurry because I had to be back before night, but I needed to get this x-country done, because it is near the end of the semester and I need to finish the course. I had only 4 1/2 hours of sleep that night and had been up since xa (local). I waited around from xb for the WX to improve, until I finally departed at xf. Well, I thought I found my first chkpoint, but my VOR's weren't quite centering. I just thought it was my bad flight planning. I also changed my heading because I planned to leave at xc, but didn't until xf and the WX had changed considerably. So, I continued on this course until I realized I did not fly over freedom airfield, which I should have if I was on course. I thought I was too far south and changed my heading to a more n-erly heading. Not knowing where I was, I panicked a little. I saw that I was over a good size city and so I started to circle till I could figure out what city it was. I finally saw the name on the water tower. I then realized I was within the TCA and immediately turned south. I called approach and asked for help to get me back on course.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT ENTERED A TCA WITHOUT ATC CLRNC.

Narrative: I WAS ENRTE ON A 5 HR, VFR X-COUNTRY FLT. I JUST DEPARTED FROM MY BASE ARPT AND WAS SETTING UP FOR MY FLT. I CALLED CLE FSS TO ACTIVATE MY FLT PLAN. I SET UP BOTH OF MY VOR'S FOR MY FIRST CHKPOINT, AND I WAS VISUALLY CHKING OUTSIDE TO MAKE SURE THAT I WOULDN'T VIOLATE THE AKRON ARSA. THERE WAS SOME MODERATE TURB, VISIBILITY WAS ABOUT 5-7 MI IN HAZE AND THE CEILINGS WERE LOW. I WAS IN A HURRY BECAUSE I HAD TO BE BACK BEFORE NIGHT, BUT I NEEDED TO GET THIS X-COUNTRY DONE, BECAUSE IT IS NEAR THE END OF THE SEMESTER AND I NEED TO FINISH THE COURSE. I HAD ONLY 4 1/2 HRS OF SLEEP THAT NIGHT AND HAD BEEN UP SINCE XA (LCL). I WAITED AROUND FROM XB FOR THE WX TO IMPROVE, UNTIL I FINALLY DEPARTED AT XF. WELL, I THOUGHT I FOUND MY FIRST CHKPOINT, BUT MY VOR'S WEREN'T QUITE CENTERING. I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS MY BAD FLT PLANNING. I ALSO CHANGED MY HDG BECAUSE I PLANNED TO LEAVE AT XC, BUT DIDN'T UNTIL XF AND THE WX HAD CHANGED CONSIDERABLY. SO, I CONTINUED ON THIS COURSE UNTIL I REALIZED I DID NOT FLY OVER FREEDOM AIRFIELD, WHICH I SHOULD HAVE IF I WAS ON COURSE. I THOUGHT I WAS TOO FAR S AND CHANGED MY HDG TO A MORE N-ERLY HDG. NOT KNOWING WHERE I WAS, I PANICKED A LITTLE. I SAW THAT I WAS OVER A GOOD SIZE CITY AND SO I STARTED TO CIRCLE TILL I COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT CITY IT WAS. I FINALLY SAW THE NAME ON THE WATER TWR. I THEN REALIZED I WAS WITHIN THE TCA AND IMMEDIATELY TURNED S. I CALLED APCH AND ASKED FOR HELP TO GET ME BACK ON COURSE.

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.