Small transport cargo aircraft cruises in the vicinity of a TCA airport with mode C inoperative.

Attributes
ACN	135687
Time
Date	199002
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sfo
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2900 msl bound upper : 2900
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oak
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 2700 flight time type : 175
ASRS Report	135687
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Mode C was inoperative according to ATC. Told to remain below TCA. Went into cruise at 2900', floor of TCA at 3000'. ATC seemed very upset about my mode C. Asked several aircraft about my altitude. I wasn't trying to pull anything! I wanted to write this just in case ATC tries to violate me. TCA awareness is really tough sometimes, on a day in, day out basis.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT CARGO ACFT CRUISES IN THE VICINITY OF A TCA ARPT WITH MODE C INOPERATIVE.

Narrative: MODE C WAS INOP ACCORDING TO ATC. TOLD TO REMAIN BELOW TCA. WENT INTO CRUISE AT 2900', FLOOR OF TCA AT 3000'. ATC SEEMED VERY UPSET ABOUT MY MODE C. ASKED SEVERAL ACFT ABOUT MY ALT. I WASN'T TRYING TO PULL ANYTHING! I WANTED TO WRITE THIS JUST IN CASE ATC TRIES TO VIOLATE ME. TCA AWARENESS IS REALLY TOUGH SOMETIMES, ON A DAY IN, DAY OUT BASIS.

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.