Narrative:

I was on a VFR flight from C-16 (frasca field, urbana, il) to timmerman field, milwaukee, wi. After landing I was told by timmerman group that the milwaukee approach control supervisor wanted me to call him on the phone. I promptly called him and was told I violated both the chicago TCA and milwaukee arsa. My altimeter showed 3400' across the TCA and the maximum altitude for that area is 7000' over 3600'. My only thought is that my transponder readout north the encoder was not accurate. I plan to have the transponder checked to see if it might be in error. I have taken this route of flight several times and have never realized a problem before. On the return trip to C-16 (base airport) I was sure to go far enough west of chicago at 2500' to avoid the same problem. I do not plan to fly again until I have the transponder checked. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter states when advised by ground to call TRACON supervisor, he reviewed route carefully with front seat passenger who has flown frequently and reads charts well. Both determined they had remained well clear of the TCA. Has received letter from FAA and is working with AOPA representative to deal with the problem. Has had transponder checked and it is ok. Analyst asked about altimeter check, which had been done and it too reads correctly. Reporter says ATC indicates altitude was 3500' when altimeter indicated 3400'. Reporter frequently flies this route on business and knows it well. Has no desire to penetrate the TCA and works at avoiding it.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALLEGED PENETRATION OF TCA.

Narrative: I WAS ON A VFR FLT FROM C-16 (FRASCA FIELD, URBANA, IL) TO TIMMERMAN FIELD, MILWAUKEE, WI. AFTER LNDG I WAS TOLD BY TIMMERMAN GROUP THAT THE MILWAUKEE APCH CTL SUPVR WANTED ME TO CALL HIM ON THE PHONE. I PROMPTLY CALLED HIM AND WAS TOLD I VIOLATED BOTH THE CHICAGO TCA AND MILWAUKEE ARSA. MY ALTIMETER SHOWED 3400' ACROSS THE TCA AND THE MAXIMUM ALT FOR THAT AREA IS 7000' OVER 3600'. MY ONLY THOUGHT IS THAT MY TRANSPONDER READOUT N THE ENCODER WAS NOT ACCURATE. I PLAN TO HAVE THE TRANSPONDER CHECKED TO SEE IF IT MIGHT BE IN ERROR. I HAVE TAKEN THIS ROUTE OF FLT SEVERAL TIMES AND HAVE NEVER REALIZED A PROBLEM BEFORE. ON THE RETURN TRIP TO C-16 (BASE ARPT) I WAS SURE TO GO FAR ENOUGH WEST OF CHICAGO AT 2500' TO AVOID THE SAME PROBLEM. I DO NOT PLAN TO FLY AGAIN UNTIL I HAVE THE TRANSPONDER CHECKED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH REPORTER REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: REPORTER STATES WHEN ADVISED BY GND TO CALL TRACON SUPVR, HE REVIEWED ROUTE CAREFULLY WITH FRONT SEAT PAX WHO HAS FLOWN FREQUENTLY AND READS CHARTS WELL. BOTH DETERMINED THEY HAD REMAINED WELL CLEAR OF THE TCA. HAS RECEIVED LETTER FROM FAA AND IS WORKING WITH AOPA REPRESENTATIVE TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM. HAS HAD TRANSPONDER CHECKED AND IT IS OK. ANALYST ASKED ABOUT ALTIMETER CHECK, WHICH HAD BEEN DONE AND IT TOO READS CORRECTLY. REPORTER SAYS ATC INDICATES ALT WAS 3500' WHEN ALTIMETER INDICATED 3400'. REPORTER FREQUENTLY FLIES THIS ROUTE ON BUSINESS AND KNOWS IT WELL. HAS NO DESIRE TO PENETRATE THE TCA AND WORKS AT AVOIDING IT.

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.