Pilot of initial CFI checkride with FAA inspector inadvertently penetrates lax TCA.

Attributes
ACN	127400
Time
Date	198911
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lax airport : hhr
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lax tower : hhr
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 280 flight time type : 37
ASRS Report	127400
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	observation : air carrier inspector
Qualification	other other : other pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On nov/xx/89, I was flying the VFR corridor through the la TCA from north to south. I was headed to hawthorne airport for a CFI checkride with an FAA inspector. Although I was unfamiliar with the area, I understood the rules of the VFR corridor and was complying. Over the top of lax (while I continued to monitor the corridor advisory frequency), I got the ATIS and tuned in hawthorne tower to get instructions for entering their pattern. After having hawthorne repeat the instructions I understood/misunderstood them to tell me to descend to 2500 and report over the san diego freeway. It was at this point that I broke the altitude restriction on the TCA. I did not know what my mistake was until I called the phone number given me over the radio. Also, I realized the following day, when I made the same flight, that they must have told me to cross the san diego freeway at or above 2500'. As a flight instructor I will make sure that all of my students receive flight instruction in a TCA.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF INITIAL CFI CHECKRIDE WITH FAA INSPECTOR INADVERTENTLY PENETRATES LAX TCA.

Narrative: ON NOV/XX/89, I WAS FLYING THE VFR CORRIDOR THROUGH THE LA TCA FROM N TO S. I WAS HEADED TO HAWTHORNE ARPT FOR A CFI CHECKRIDE WITH AN FAA INSPECTOR. ALTHOUGH I WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE AREA, I UNDERSTOOD THE RULES OF THE VFR CORRIDOR AND WAS COMPLYING. OVER THE TOP OF LAX (WHILE I CONTINUED TO MONITOR THE CORRIDOR ADVISORY FREQ), I GOT THE ATIS AND TUNED IN HAWTHORNE TWR TO GET INSTRUCTIONS FOR ENTERING THEIR PATTERN. AFTER HAVING HAWTHORNE REPEAT THE INSTRUCTIONS I UNDERSTOOD/MISUNDERSTOOD THEM TO TELL ME TO DSND TO 2500 AND REPORT OVER THE SAN DIEGO FREEWAY. IT WAS AT THIS POINT THAT I BROKE THE ALT RESTRICTION ON THE TCA. I DID NOT KNOW WHAT MY MISTAKE WAS UNTIL I CALLED THE PHONE NUMBER GIVEN ME OVER THE RADIO. ALSO, I REALIZED THE FOLLOWING DAY, WHEN I MADE THE SAME FLT, THAT THEY MUST HAVE TOLD ME TO CROSS THE SAN DIEGO FREEWAY AT OR ABOVE 2500'. AS A FLT INSTRUCTOR I WILL MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF MY STUDENTS RECEIVE FLT INSTRUCTION IN A TCA.

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.