Cleared into TCA and then controller upset because he is not operating in the VFR corridor.

Attributes
ACN	184680
Time
Date	199107
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lax airport : sna
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10500 msl bound upper : 10500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lax
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 2400 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	184680
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I departed john wayne IFR to VFR on top. Once VFR, I notified approach. She asked if I would like flight following to santa maria. I said yes and I was going to climb to 12500 ft above the lax TCA. After several other controllers one of them said 'level off at 10500 ft, heading 140 degree and cleared to enter the TCA.' I did as requested and entered the TCA. After several other controllers, one really got upset because I wasn't in the VFR corridor. I told him I didn't remember anyone say proceed through the corridor. I told him I was given permission to enter the TCA and a heading only. He said different. If I had known that I would have been required to use the corridor I would have refused his TCA clearance, because I didn't have VFR maps. The controller gave me vectors and 9500 to the corridor. I would have questioned him entering me into the TCA but the radio was busy. I wish I had refused his clearance through the TCA, only squawked VFR and went up to 12000 ft. I will not let a controller sucker me into that again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLRED INTO TCA AND THEN CTLR UPSET BECAUSE HE IS NOT OPERATING IN THE VFR CORRIDOR.

Narrative: I DEPARTED JOHN WAYNE IFR TO VFR ON TOP. ONCE VFR, I NOTIFIED APCH. SHE ASKED IF I WOULD LIKE FLT FOLLOWING TO SANTA MARIA. I SAID YES AND I WAS GOING TO CLB TO 12500 FT ABOVE THE LAX TCA. AFTER SEVERAL OTHER CTLRS ONE OF THEM SAID 'LEVEL OFF AT 10500 FT, HDG 140 DEG AND CLRED TO ENTER THE TCA.' I DID AS REQUESTED AND ENTERED THE TCA. AFTER SEVERAL OTHER CTLRS, ONE REALLY GOT UPSET BECAUSE I WASN'T IN THE VFR CORRIDOR. I TOLD HIM I DIDN'T REMEMBER ANYONE SAY PROCEED THROUGH THE CORRIDOR. I TOLD HIM I WAS GIVEN PERMISSION TO ENTER THE TCA AND A HDG ONLY. HE SAID DIFFERENT. IF I HAD KNOWN THAT I WOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO USE THE CORRIDOR I WOULD HAVE REFUSED HIS TCA CLRNC, BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE VFR MAPS. THE CTLR GAVE ME VECTORS AND 9500 TO THE CORRIDOR. I WOULD HAVE QUESTIONED HIM ENTERING ME INTO THE TCA BUT THE RADIO WAS BUSY. I WISH I HAD REFUSED HIS CLRNC THROUGH THE TCA, ONLY SQUAWKED VFR AND WENT UP TO 12000 FT. I WILL NOT LET A CTLR SUCKER ME INTO THAT AGAIN.

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.