Narrative:

En route petaluma airport (O69) to palo alto airport (pao) 6500 MSL, called ZOA to enter arsa and eventually TCA (127.8). Position at that time approximately north shore of san pablo bay outside arsa. Radar identified (mode C) and accepted in arsa as per requested route. Called center again to request TCA clearance, was advised 'will hand you off to bay in a minute, cleared direct pao, VFR'. Due to frequency congestion, it was a little longer than a minute before handoff. Contacted bay and was advised that I was in the TCA without a clearance, turn left 060 and descend to 4500'. A couple of minutes later may advised clear of TCA, cleared direct oak airport, east of lake chabot descend to 2000. Bay advised 'no conflict', no problem, (maybe for him!) oak, (on initial clearance to pao) did not advise 'remain clear of TCA' neither was I formally cleared thru the TCA with specific wording as usual. Suggest filing this one under communications. I feel like mom said 'take a cookie' and split, dad came in and found me with my hand in the cookie jar.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA ENTERS OAK TCA WITHOUT PROPER CLRNC.

Narrative: ENRTE PETALUMA ARPT (O69) TO PALO ALTO ARPT (PAO) 6500 MSL, CALLED ZOA TO ENTER ARSA AND EVENTUALLY TCA (127.8). POSITION AT THAT TIME APPROX N SHORE OF SAN PABLO BAY OUTSIDE ARSA. RADAR IDENTIFIED (MODE C) AND ACCEPTED IN ARSA AS PER REQUESTED ROUTE. CALLED CENTER AGAIN TO REQUEST TCA CLRNC, WAS ADVISED 'WILL HAND YOU OFF TO BAY IN A MINUTE, CLRED DIRECT PAO, VFR'. DUE TO FREQ CONGESTION, IT WAS A LITTLE LONGER THAN A MINUTE BEFORE HANDOFF. CONTACTED BAY AND WAS ADVISED THAT I WAS IN THE TCA WITHOUT A CLRNC, TURN LEFT 060 AND DSND TO 4500'. A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER MAY ADVISED CLEAR OF TCA, CLRED DIRECT OAK ARPT, E OF LAKE CHABOT DSND TO 2000. BAY ADVISED 'NO CONFLICT', NO PROBLEM, (MAYBE FOR HIM!) OAK, (ON INITIAL CLRNC TO PAO) DID NOT ADVISE 'REMAIN CLEAR OF TCA' NEITHER WAS I FORMALLY CLRED THRU THE TCA WITH SPECIFIC WORDING AS USUAL. SUGGEST FILING THIS ONE UNDER COMS. I FEEL LIKE MOM SAID 'TAKE A COOKIE' AND SPLIT, DAD CAME IN AND FOUND ME WITH MY HAND IN THE COOKIE JAR.

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.