TCA penetration. - NASA ASRS

Attributes
ACN	134858
Time
Date	199001
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : den airport : 48v
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9500 msl bound upper : 9500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : den
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : student
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 26 flight time total : 61 flight time type : 51
ASRS Report	134858
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	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Upon departure from 48V, approximately 13 NM from den, flight plan was opened on downwind leg midfield. Radio frequency was immediately changed to den approach and call sign was announced, with no response. There was very little communication on the radio at the time. A second and third call was made before acknowledgement. Meanwhile the aircraft ascended to flight plan altitude. When den approach did acknowledge, pilot was instructed to identify on mode C, and then told that aircraft was 3 mi from den and in violation of TCA. Pilot name, address and home base was then demanded. Change of altitude or heading were not offered and student pilot was told to speak with instrument upon return to home airport. Flight continued to cos west/O difficulty and return trip through den TCA west/O difficulty. It was felt that den approach was rude and not helpful in any way. Student pilot now realizes circling until clearance is given in proper approach procedure, but wonders why approach did not communicate with aircraft sooner.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TCA PENETRATION.

Narrative: UPON DEP FROM 48V, APPROX 13 NM FROM DEN, FLT PLAN WAS OPENED ON DOWNWIND LEG MIDFIELD. RADIO FREQ WAS IMMEDIATELY CHANGED TO DEN APCH AND CALL SIGN WAS ANNOUNCED, WITH NO RESPONSE. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE COM ON THE RADIO AT THE TIME. A SECOND AND THIRD CALL WAS MADE BEFORE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. MEANWHILE THE ACFT ASCENDED TO FLT PLAN ALT. WHEN DEN APCH DID ACKNOWLEDGE, PLT WAS INSTRUCTED TO IDENT ON MODE C, AND THEN TOLD THAT ACFT WAS 3 MI FROM DEN AND IN VIOLATION OF TCA. PLT NAME, ADDRESS AND HOME BASE WAS THEN DEMANDED. CHANGE OF ALT OR HDG WERE NOT OFFERED AND STUDENT PLT WAS TOLD TO SPEAK WITH INSTR UPON RETURN TO HOME ARPT. FLT CONTINUED TO COS W/O DIFFICULTY AND RETURN TRIP THROUGH DEN TCA W/O DIFFICULTY. IT WAS FELT THAT DEN APCH WAS RUDE AND NOT HELPFUL IN ANY WAY. STUDENT PLT NOW REALIZES CIRCLING UNTIL CLRNC IS GIVEN IN PROPER APCH PROC, BUT WONDERS WHY APCH DID NOT COMMUNICATE WITH ACFT SOONER.

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.