Pilot on VFR flight using IFR low enroute chart penetrates the pit TCA.

Attributes
ACN	145878
Time
Date	199005
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mmj
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4500 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pit
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 30
ASRS Report	145878
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During the return flight on a classified assignment, but known as a practice search and rescue flight, my detroit sectional was destroyed by an observer crew member because of the moderate to severe turbulence. I was using only a commercial low altitude en route chart (which of course does not display the TCA controled airspace). I radioed pit departure control on 119.35 and requested clearance through the TCA. I was told I was already in it. I offered to turn back out and/or descend. The controller repeated miserably that I was was already in it. I estimated my range to agc was 20 NM. In reviewing with another detroit sectional, I feel that I was in the TCA, but barely. I know now that I should have used the soggy detroit sectional and in spite of being busy with the attendant problems of a sick crew member, called pit departure sooner.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT ON VFR FLT USING IFR LOW ENROUTE CHART PENETRATES THE PIT TCA.

Narrative: DURING THE RETURN FLT ON A CLASSIFIED ASSIGNMENT, BUT KNOWN AS A PRACTICE SEARCH AND RESCUE FLT, MY DETROIT SECTIONAL WAS DESTROYED BY AN OBSERVER CREW MEMBER BECAUSE OF THE MODERATE TO SEVERE TURB. I WAS USING ONLY A COMMERCIAL LOW ALT ENRTE CHART (WHICH OF COURSE DOES NOT DISPLAY THE TCA CTLED AIRSPACE). I RADIOED PIT DEP CTL ON 119.35 AND REQUESTED CLRNC THROUGH THE TCA. I WAS TOLD I WAS ALREADY IN IT. I OFFERED TO TURN BACK OUT AND/OR DSND. THE CTLR REPEATED MISERABLY THAT I WAS WAS ALREADY IN IT. I ESTIMATED MY RANGE TO AGC WAS 20 NM. IN REVIEWING WITH ANOTHER DETROIT SECTIONAL, I FEEL THAT I WAS IN THE TCA, BUT BARELY. I KNOW NOW THAT I SHOULD HAVE USED THE SOGGY DETROIT SECTIONAL AND IN SPITE OF BEING BUSY WITH THE ATTENDANT PROBS OF A SICK CREW MEMBER, CALLED PIT DEP 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.