Atx small aircraft unauthorized penetration of airspace slc TCA.

Attributes
ACN	133032
Time
Date	199001
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : slc
State Reference	UT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9300 msl bound upper : 9300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zlc tracon : slc
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 221 flight time total : 10171 flight time type : 1216
ASRS Report	133032
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was approaching slc from the ene and receiving VFR advisories from slc center. I was getting very close to slc, and asked slc center for a handoff to slc approach. Instead of handling me off, he released me and told me to squawk 1200 and contact slc approach. I then attempted to call slc approach several times, with no answer. I also continued descending very quickly, and was behind the first mountain ridge, so I couldn't see the airport. When the DME finally came on, it showed 14 NM. At the same time, approach finally answered me. I turned to the north to stay clear immediately, and when I was idented on radar, he said I was in the TCA. He then gave me a heading and altitude to fly, and on I went. The way the TCA is set up at slc, if you are high enough to clear the ridges comfortably approaching from the east, you will be in the TCA. An earlier call would have helped, but in this situation with center holding me so late and then not handing me off, I was just screwed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATX SMA UNAUTH PENETRATION OF AIRSPACE SLC TCA.

Narrative: I WAS APCHING SLC FROM THE ENE AND RECEIVING VFR ADVISORIES FROM SLC CENTER. I WAS GETTING VERY CLOSE TO SLC, AND ASKED SLC CENTER FOR A HDOF TO SLC APCH. INSTEAD OF HANDLING ME OFF, HE RELEASED ME AND TOLD ME TO SQUAWK 1200 AND CONTACT SLC APCH. I THEN ATTEMPTED TO CALL SLC APCH SEVERAL TIMES, WITH NO ANSWER. I ALSO CONTINUED DSNDING VERY QUICKLY, AND WAS BEHIND THE FIRST MOUNTAIN RIDGE, SO I COULDN'T SEE THE ARPT. WHEN THE DME FINALLY CAME ON, IT SHOWED 14 NM. AT THE SAME TIME, APCH FINALLY ANSWERED ME. I TURNED TO THE N TO STAY CLR IMMEDIATELY, AND WHEN I WAS IDENTED ON RADAR, HE SAID I WAS IN THE TCA. HE THEN GAVE ME A HDG AND ALT TO FLY, AND ON I WENT. THE WAY THE TCA IS SET UP AT SLC, IF YOU ARE HIGH ENOUGH TO CLR THE RIDGES COMFORTABLY APCHING FROM THE E, YOU WILL BE IN THE TCA. AN EARLIER CALL WOULD HAVE HELPED, BUT IN THIS SITUATION WITH CENTER HOLDING ME SO LATE AND THEN NOT HANDING ME OFF, I WAS JUST SCREWED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.