Small aircraft may have entered arsa without ATC clearance.

Attributes
ACN	139969
Time
Date	199003
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : cae
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : cae
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 289 flight time type : 120
ASRS Report	139969
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

At 18 mi southeast of cae VOR I called cae ATC and requested permission to overfly columbia at 2500' MSL en route to the north pacific area (north of columbia). I was given a squawk code of XXXX, told that I was radar contact and cleared to 2500'. About 3 mins later I noticed an medium large transport on approach to cae. I also noticed an light transport passenger plane following him. I maintained adequate visibility sep from both planes at all times. About 2 mins later ATC called and said, 'xa, what are you doing in this arsa?' I replied that I was following my clearance to the north practice area as cleared at 2500'. ATC informed me that I had traffic at 10 and 2 O'clock and I confirmed that I had been observing both planes already. No further questions were asked by ATC. It is my opinion that ATC forgot that I was cleared and was trying to cover up.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA MAY HAVE ENTERED ARSA WITHOUT ATC CLRNC.

Narrative: AT 18 MI SE OF CAE VOR I CALLED CAE ATC AND REQUESTED PERMISSION TO OVERFLY COLUMBIA AT 2500' MSL ENRTE TO THE N PACIFIC AREA (N OF COLUMBIA). I WAS GIVEN A SQUAWK CODE OF XXXX, TOLD THAT I WAS RADAR CONTACT AND CLRED TO 2500'. ABOUT 3 MINS LATER I NOTICED AN MLG ON APCH TO CAE. I ALSO NOTICED AN LTT PAX PLANE FOLLOWING HIM. I MAINTAINED ADEQUATE VIS SEP FROM BOTH PLANES AT ALL TIMES. ABOUT 2 MINS LATER ATC CALLED AND SAID, 'XA, WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THIS ARSA?' I REPLIED THAT I WAS FOLLOWING MY CLRNC TO THE N PRACTICE AREA AS CLRED AT 2500'. ATC INFORMED ME THAT I HAD TFC AT 10 AND 2 O'CLOCK AND I CONFIRMED THAT I HAD BEEN OBSERVING BOTH PLANES ALREADY. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS WERE ASKED BY ATC. IT IS MY OPINION THAT ATC FORGOT THAT I WAS CLRED AND WAS TRYING TO COVER UP.

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.