GA small aircraft unauthorized penetration of airspace.

Attributes
ACN	123701
Time
Date	198909
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hpn
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 12 flight time total : 310 flight time type : 125
ASRS Report	123701
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was flying night VFR and called ny approach to get a practice ILS approach to runway 34 at hpn. The controller told me to stay clear of the ny TCA and assigned me a squawk code. Shortly he called back and said he'd try and work out the approach for me, and then started vectoring me. About 2 mins later he called back with radar contact and continued vectoring me. Twice he asked me to verify altitude (3000'), which I did. He vectored me through the 34 localizer and then said, 'I told you to stay clear of the TCA.' I descended immediately and he finished my vectoring and cleared me for the approach. I spoke to my former cfii that evening and he said I was under the misconception that since I was radar idented, and being vectored, that I would receive altitude instructions for descent (as I would if I was on an IFR flight plan), but since I was VFR, it was my responsibility. I was wrong, and the incursion was not intentional.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA UNAUTH PENETRATION OF AIRSPACE.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING NIGHT VFR AND CALLED NY APCH TO GET A PRACTICE ILS APCH TO RWY 34 AT HPN. THE CTLR TOLD ME TO STAY CLR OF THE NY TCA AND ASSIGNED ME A SQUAWK CODE. SHORTLY HE CALLED BACK AND SAID HE'D TRY AND WORK OUT THE APCH FOR ME, AND THEN STARTED VECTORING ME. ABOUT 2 MINS LATER HE CALLED BACK WITH RADAR CONTACT AND CONTINUED VECTORING ME. TWICE HE ASKED ME TO VERIFY ALT (3000'), WHICH I DID. HE VECTORED ME THROUGH THE 34 LOC AND THEN SAID, 'I TOLD YOU TO STAY CLR OF THE TCA.' I DSNDED IMMEDIATELY AND HE FINISHED MY VECTORING AND CLRED ME FOR THE APCH. I SPOKE TO MY FORMER CFII THAT EVENING AND HE SAID I WAS UNDER THE MISCONCEPTION THAT SINCE I WAS RADAR IDENTED, AND BEING VECTORED, THAT I WOULD RECEIVE ALT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DSCNT (AS I WOULD IF I WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN), BUT SINCE I WAS VFR, IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY. I WAS WRONG, AND THE INCURSION WAS NOT INTENTIONAL.

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.