Small aircraft pilot enters edge of TCA while deviating around thunderstorms.

Attributes
ACN	188376
Time
Date	199108
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hlg
State Reference	WV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 11500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pit tower : bos
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 65 flight time total : 2390 flight time type : 980
ASRS Report	188376
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I may have penetrated the boundaries of the pittsburg, PA, TCA. During a cross country flight, I encountered an embedded thunderstorm during VMC (marginal). During the process of turns and dscnts to maintain flight under VFR, I discovered my position near wellsburg, wv, which is very close to the TCA, leading me to consider that I may have brushed the outer edges of the TCA. My straight line course was to have kept me clear of the TCA, so during the series of turns and dscnts around the thunderstorm, the TCA wasn't thought to be a factor. 1 note though, in reviewing these events, it seems that in some cases, it may be of help if VFR approach control quadrant frequencys were printed on the sectional and WAC charts in blocks outside the TCA's as is for arsa's on sectionals. Restr area blocks may also be helpful when flying as sole occupant of an aircraft, especially a small cockpit aircraft, it may become extremely difficult to unfold a chart in order to find control frequencys. Frequency blocks outside the control zone would be very helpful.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT ENTERS EDGE OF TCA WHILE DEVIATING AROUND TSTMS.

Narrative: I MAY HAVE PENETRATED THE BOUNDARIES OF THE PITTSBURG, PA, TCA. DURING A XCOUNTRY FLT, I ENCOUNTERED AN EMBEDDED TSTM DURING VMC (MARGINAL). DURING THE PROCESS OF TURNS AND DSCNTS TO MAINTAIN FLT UNDER VFR, I DISCOVERED MY POS NEAR WELLSBURG, WV, WHICH IS VERY CLOSE TO THE TCA, LEADING ME TO CONSIDER THAT I MAY HAVE BRUSHED THE OUTER EDGES OF THE TCA. MY STRAIGHT LINE COURSE WAS TO HAVE KEPT ME CLR OF THE TCA, SO DURING THE SERIES OF TURNS AND DSCNTS AROUND THE TSTM, THE TCA WASN'T THOUGHT TO BE A FACTOR. 1 NOTE THOUGH, IN REVIEWING THESE EVENTS, IT SEEMS THAT IN SOME CASES, IT MAY BE OF HELP IF VFR APCH CTL QUADRANT FREQS WERE PRINTED ON THE SECTIONAL AND WAC CHARTS IN BLOCKS OUTSIDE THE TCA'S AS IS FOR ARSA'S ON SECTIONALS. RESTR AREA BLOCKS MAY ALSO BE HELPFUL WHEN FLYING AS SOLE OCCUPANT OF AN ACFT, ESPECIALLY A SMALL COCKPIT ACFT, IT MAY BECOME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO UNFOLD A CHART IN ORDER TO FIND CTL FREQS. FREQ BLOCKS OUTSIDE THE CTL ZONE WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.

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.