TCA penetration without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	180553
Time
Date	199104
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dca
State Reference	DC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dca
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High 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 : 130 flight time type : 129
ASRS Report	180553
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	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During the flight, I entered a TCA for the first time. I followed standard procedure and was instructed by various controllers to change course away from my destination repeatedly. I complied with their instructions. In so doing, I was placed over a body of water and was not carrying the required life best required for such situations. I was unaware in flight planning that I would be over this water, which was well off my course. I also was far from any of the alternate airports I had designated. As a result of a 30-45 minutes extra flying because of a TCA-imposed course deviation, I was close to my reserve fuel limit. I landed at a restr airport in order to refuel. Ezf airport. I was equipped with mode C. I respectfully propose more direct passage through TCA space for aircraft with low ranges, when air traffic permits, and advance advice from controllers if TCA passage will be likely to require significant course deviations or over-water flts. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: had not TCA charts, only sectional charts. Did have mode C and was in contact with approach control after entered the TCA. No sure of TCA he was in but, indicated it was probably dca. Is taking training with cfii for instrument rating and trying to become more proficient in navigation. Concerned with the extended vr over water.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TCA PENETRATION WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: DURING THE FLT, I ENTERED A TCA FOR THE FIRST TIME. I FOLLOWED STANDARD PROC AND WAS INSTRUCTED BY VARIOUS CTLRS TO CHANGE COURSE AWAY FROM MY DEST REPEATEDLY. I COMPLIED WITH THEIR INSTRUCTIONS. IN SO DOING, I WAS PLACED OVER A BODY OF WATER AND WAS NOT CARRYING THE REQUIRED LIFE BEST REQUIRED FOR SUCH SITUATIONS. I WAS UNAWARE IN FLT PLANNING THAT I WOULD BE OVER THIS WATER, WHICH WAS WELL OFF MY COURSE. I ALSO WAS FAR FROM ANY OF THE ALTERNATE ARPTS I HAD DESIGNATED. AS A RESULT OF A 30-45 MINUTES EXTRA FLYING BECAUSE OF A TCA-IMPOSED COURSE DEVIATION, I WAS CLOSE TO MY RESERVE FUEL LIMIT. I LANDED AT A RESTR ARPT IN ORDER TO REFUEL. EZF ARPT. I WAS EQUIPPED WITH MODE C. I RESPECTFULLY PROPOSE MORE DIRECT PASSAGE THROUGH TCA SPACE FOR ACFT WITH LOW RANGES, WHEN AIR TFC PERMITS, AND ADVANCE ADVICE FROM CTLRS IF TCA PASSAGE WILL BE LIKELY TO REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT COURSE DEVIATIONS OR OVER-WATER FLTS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: HAD NOT TCA CHARTS, ONLY SECTIONAL CHARTS. DID HAVE MODE C AND WAS IN CONTACT WITH APCH CTL AFTER ENTERED THE TCA. NO SURE OF TCA HE WAS IN BUT, INDICATED IT WAS PROBABLY DCA. IS TAKING TRAINING WITH CFII FOR INSTRUMENT RATING AND TRYING TO BECOME MORE PROFICIENT IN NAVIGATION. CONCERNED WITH THE EXTENDED VR OVER WATER.

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.