GA small aircraft alleged unauthorized penetration of san TCA.

Attributes
ACN	198285
Time
Date	199201
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mzb airport : see
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5500 msl bound upper : 6500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : san
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 2500 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	198285
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace none taken : anomaly accepted none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On a VFR flight to catalina, at approximately the 320 degree radial and 10 mi from mission bay VOR, I requested VFR flight following. As my aircraft passed through 5500 MSL, the controller informed me that I was not cleared into the TCA and to descend to 4500 MSL. I informed him that I showed my aircraft below the TCA. The location I was at, the TCA limits were 1500- 2500 ft and then again 6800-12500 ft. I was at 5500 ft climbing to 6500 ft. The controller requested that I rechk my chart, which I did. Again I informed him that I was not in the TCA. Again he said that I was. I visually confirmed my position and with the mzb VOR mzb. I believe I was outside of the TCA. On that same flight I was informed that my mode C was inoperative. After a few hours at catalina, I returned to san diego gillespie field. The WX was marginal so I requested IFR to gillespie field. Again my mode C was reported inoperative. I acknowledged that report. The controller informed me that it was illegal to fly around a TCA without mode C. I informed him that I would get it repaired as soon as possible (there are no repair facilities at catalina).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA ALLEGED UNAUTH PENETRATION OF SAN TCA.

Narrative: ON A VFR FLT TO CATALINA, AT APPROX THE 320 DEG RADIAL AND 10 MI FROM MISSION BAY VOR, I REQUESTED VFR FLT FOLLOWING. AS MY ACFT PASSED THROUGH 5500 MSL, THE CTLR INFORMED ME THAT I WAS NOT CLRED INTO THE TCA AND TO DSND TO 4500 MSL. I INFORMED HIM THAT I SHOWED MY ACFT BELOW THE TCA. THE LOCATION I WAS AT, THE TCA LIMITS WERE 1500- 2500 FT AND THEN AGAIN 6800-12500 FT. I WAS AT 5500 FT CLBING TO 6500 FT. THE CTLR REQUESTED THAT I RECHK MY CHART, WHICH I DID. AGAIN I INFORMED HIM THAT I WAS NOT IN THE TCA. AGAIN HE SAID THAT I WAS. I VISUALLY CONFIRMED MY POS AND WITH THE MZB VOR MZB. I BELIEVE I WAS OUTSIDE OF THE TCA. ON THAT SAME FLT I WAS INFORMED THAT MY MODE C WAS INOPERATIVE. AFTER A FEW HOURS AT CATALINA, I RETURNED TO SAN DIEGO GILLESPIE FIELD. THE WX WAS MARGINAL SO I REQUESTED IFR TO GILLESPIE FIELD. AGAIN MY MODE C WAS RPTED INOPERATIVE. I ACKNOWLEDGED THAT RPT. THE CTLR INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS ILLEGAL TO FLY AROUND A TCA WITHOUT MODE C. I INFORMED HIM THAT I WOULD GET IT REPAIRED ASAP (THERE ARE NO REPAIR FACILITIES AT CATALINA).

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.