Approach controller failed to coordinate an aircraft through tower airspace. Operational deviation.

Attributes
ACN	119875
Time
Date	198908
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ont
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : riv tower : ont
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	119875
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : handoff position
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified atc
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Inter Facility Coordination Failure Operational Deviation

Narrative:

Aircraft being flown from approximately 30 mi northwest of cno to a landing at cno airport under VFR advisories and direction of ontario approach control. Original altitude reported as 6500' MSL descending, direct to cno, given mode C, squawk, advise to turn left 30 degree (resultant heading 095 degree magnetic not to descend below 4000' MSL) to clear traffic departing ont. After acknowledging and proceeding as directed, we were directed to turn right, proceed direct to cno airport. After inquiry, ont approach gave authorization to descend without restriction squawk 1200 contact cno tower on 118.5 which we did. On landing we were requested to call ont tower re incursion in their airspace without their knowledge or approval. On learning of my clearance 'you may descend at your discretion direct cno, squawk 1200, contact cno tower now on 118.5' from ont approach, the ont tower controller said he never heard ont approach and there could have been a conflict with departures from ont airport. He would talk to ont approach about the matter. This is typical of conflicting control and potential for disaster in TCA and arsa flts.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: APCH CTLR FAILED TO COORDINATE AN ACFT THROUGH TWR AIRSPACE. OPERATIONAL DEVIATION.

Narrative: ACFT BEING FLOWN FROM APPROX 30 MI NW OF CNO TO A LNDG AT CNO ARPT UNDER VFR ADVISORIES AND DIRECTION OF ONTARIO APCH CTL. ORIGINAL ALT REPORTED AS 6500' MSL DESCENDING, DIRECT TO CNO, GIVEN MODE C, SQUAWK, ADVISE TO TURN LEFT 30 DEG (RESULTANT HDG 095 DEG MAG NOT TO DSND BELOW 4000' MSL) TO CLEAR TFC DEPARTING ONT. AFTER ACKNOWLEDGING AND PROCEEDING AS DIRECTED, WE WERE DIRECTED TO TURN RIGHT, PROCEED DIRECT TO CNO ARPT. AFTER INQUIRY, ONT APCH GAVE AUTHORIZATION TO DSND WITHOUT RESTRICTION SQUAWK 1200 CONTACT CNO TWR ON 118.5 WHICH WE DID. ON LNDG WE WERE REQUESTED TO CALL ONT TWR RE INCURSION IN THEIR AIRSPACE WITHOUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE OR APPROVAL. ON LEARNING OF MY CLRNC 'YOU MAY DSND AT YOUR DISCRETION DIRECT CNO, SQUAWK 1200, CONTACT CNO TWR NOW ON 118.5' FROM ONT APCH, THE ONT TWR CTLR SAID HE NEVER HEARD ONT APCH AND THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A CONFLICT WITH DEPS FROM ONT ARPT. HE WOULD TALK TO ONT APCH ABOUT THE MATTER. THIS IS TYPICAL OF CONFLICTING CTL AND POTENTIAL FOR DISASTER IN TCA AND ARSA FLTS.

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.