Small aircraft pilot unintentionally penetraes sea TCA.

Attributes
ACN	154543
Time
Date	199007
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sea airport : bfi
State Reference	WA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sea tower : lax
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time total : 162
ASRS Report	154543
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I departed bfi to the southeast keeping well below the 2000' TCA floor. I continued in this direction down the kent valley between auburn municipal airport and crest airpark. I proceeded to lake tapps area while making a cruise climb to 4800'. It was over lake tapps that I discovered I had entered the TCA. I immediately descended below the TCA floor to 2800'. Shortly after this I communicated briefly with seattle radio I explained my situation but due to his sudden increase in radio calls he was unable to assist me at that time. He instructed me to call back later in my flight. My error which lead to the incident at lake tapps was in reading the TCA chart. When I looked at that area on the chart between auburn municipal and crest airpark it appeared as though auburn municipal was on the dividing line between the TCA floors at 3000' and 5000'. I thought keeping auburn mini off my right wing would allow me to ascend up to 5000'. When I xed over lake tapps my mistake became clear. I think there could be a better designation of those 2 airstrips so there's low possibility of confusing the two.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT UNINTENTIONALLY PENETRAES SEA TCA.

Narrative: I DEPARTED BFI TO THE SE KEEPING WELL BELOW THE 2000' TCA FLOOR. I CONTINUED IN THIS DIRECTION DOWN THE KENT VALLEY BTWN AUBURN MUNICIPAL ARPT AND CREST AIRPARK. I PROCEEDED TO LAKE TAPPS AREA WHILE MAKING A CRUISE CLB TO 4800'. IT WAS OVER LAKE TAPPS THAT I DISCOVERED I HAD ENTERED THE TCA. I IMMEDIATELY DSNDED BELOW THE TCA FLOOR TO 2800'. SHORTLY AFTER THIS I COMMUNICATED BRIEFLY WITH SEATTLE RADIO I EXPLAINED MY SITUATION BUT DUE TO HIS SUDDEN INCREASE IN RADIO CALLS HE WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST ME AT THAT TIME. HE INSTRUCTED ME TO CALL BACK LATER IN MY FLT. MY ERROR WHICH LEAD TO THE INCIDENT AT LAKE TAPPS WAS IN READING THE TCA CHART. WHEN I LOOKED AT THAT AREA ON THE CHART BTWN AUBURN MUNICIPAL AND CREST AIRPARK IT APPEARED AS THOUGH AUBURN MUNICIPAL WAS ON THE DIVIDING LINE BTWN THE TCA FLOORS AT 3000' AND 5000'. I THOUGHT KEEPING AUBURN MINI OFF MY R WING WOULD ALLOW ME TO ASCEND UP TO 5000'. WHEN I XED OVER LAKE TAPPS MY MISTAKE BECAME CLR. I THINK THERE COULD BE A BETTER DESIGNATION OF THOSE 2 AIRSTRIPS SO THERE'S LOW POSSIBILITY OF CONFUSING THE TWO.

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.