Small transport enters TCA without ATC clearance.

Attributes
ACN	129905
Time
Date	198911
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lga airport : teb
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90 tower : zzz
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 2200
ASRS Report	129905
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

At XX05 pm (XXXX), I departed bdl on a scheduled far 135 cargo flight to teb on an IFR flight plan. Over hvn, I cancelled my IFR flight plan with ny approach on 126.95. He told me to remain on my present beacon code for VFR advisories to teb. I descended from 6000' MSL to 3000' MSL, and maintained VFR throughout the descent and remainder of the flight. I was handed off to ny approach on 126.4. Approximately 18 DME from lga to the ene, ny asked me to state my altitude. '3000',' I replied. He then told me that I was inside the ny TCA. I replied that in knew this, but understood from the previous controller that I had a clearance through the TCA to my destination, teb. He replied that I did not, and I executed a descent out of 3000' for 2500' MSL, at his suggestion, to remain outside the TCA. I later received a TCA clearance from lga TCA control on 120.8 (I believe that is the correct frequency), and landed at teb west/O further incident. My mistake was in assuming that since I cancelled IFR with ny approach, and was told to remain on my squawk and then handed off, that I would automatically be cleared into the ny TCA. I know now that I must specifically ask for an be given a TCA clearance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT ENTERS TCA WITHOUT ATC CLRNC.

Narrative: AT XX05 PM (XXXX), I DEPARTED BDL ON A SCHEDULED FAR 135 CARGO FLT TO TEB ON AN IFR FLT PLAN. OVER HVN, I CANCELLED MY IFR FLT PLAN WITH NY APCH ON 126.95. HE TOLD ME TO REMAIN ON MY PRESENT BEACON CODE FOR VFR ADVISORIES TO TEB. I DSNDED FROM 6000' MSL TO 3000' MSL, AND MAINTAINED VFR THROUGHOUT THE DSCNT AND REMAINDER OF THE FLT. I WAS HANDED OFF TO NY APCH ON 126.4. APPROX 18 DME FROM LGA TO THE ENE, NY ASKED ME TO STATE MY ALT. '3000',' I REPLIED. HE THEN TOLD ME THAT I WAS INSIDE THE NY TCA. I REPLIED THAT IN KNEW THIS, BUT UNDERSTOOD FROM THE PREVIOUS CTLR THAT I HAD A CLRNC THROUGH THE TCA TO MY DEST, TEB. HE REPLIED THAT I DID NOT, AND I EXECUTED A DSCNT OUT OF 3000' FOR 2500' MSL, AT HIS SUGGESTION, TO REMAIN OUTSIDE THE TCA. I LATER RECEIVED A TCA CLRNC FROM LGA TCA CTL ON 120.8 (I BELIEVE THAT IS THE CORRECT FREQ), AND LANDED AT TEB W/O FURTHER INCIDENT. MY MISTAKE WAS IN ASSUMING THAT SINCE I CANCELLED IFR WITH NY APCH, AND WAS TOLD TO REMAIN ON MY SQUAWK AND THEN HANDED OFF, THAT I WOULD AUTOMATICALLY BE CLRED INTO THE NY TCA. I KNOW NOW THAT I MUST SPECIFICALLY ASK FOR AN BE GIVEN A TCA CLRNC.

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.