Pilot of small transport entered phx TCA.

Attributes
ACN	169927
Time
Date	199101
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bxk
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4500 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phx tower : day
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	169927
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I departed chandler municipal airport for a VFR flight to bullhead city, az. I proceeded westbound to buckeye VOR to avoid the TCA and phx traffic before turning northbound for bullhead city. Before departing chandler, I asked the FBO for a TCA clear of the phx TCA, but they had none in stock. I looked at the one in their flight planning room and misinterpreted the base as 6000', not the top, so I assumed that 4500' would keep me below the TCA. (I am familiar with the den TCA with bases at 7500' and top at 11000'.) I contacted phx approach for flight following and was informed of the TCA violation. I complied with their request at time of contact, but thought I was clear of TCA.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMT ENTERED PHX TCA.

Narrative: I DEPARTED CHANDLER MUNI ARPT FOR A VFR FLT TO BULLHEAD CITY, AZ. I PROCEEDED WBND TO BUCKEYE VOR TO AVOID THE TCA AND PHX TFC BEFORE TURNING NBND FOR BULLHEAD CITY. BEFORE DEPARTING CHANDLER, I ASKED THE FBO FOR A TCA CLR OF THE PHX TCA, BUT THEY HAD NONE IN STOCK. I LOOKED AT THE ONE IN THEIR FLT PLANNING ROOM AND MISINTERPRETED THE BASE AS 6000', NOT THE TOP, SO I ASSUMED THAT 4500' WOULD KEEP ME BELOW THE TCA. (I AM FAMILIAR WITH THE DEN TCA WITH BASES AT 7500' AND TOP AT 11000'.) I CONTACTED PHX APCH FOR FLT FOLLOWING AND WAS INFORMED OF THE TCA VIOLATION. I COMPLIED WITH THEIR REQUEST AT TIME OF CONTACT, BUT THOUGHT I WAS CLR OF TCA.

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.