Small aircraft given squawk then radar contact for flight following and arsa transit. At 5 to 6 mi f...

Attributes
ACN	204457
Time
Date	199203
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hwd
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oak tower : hwd
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 18 flight time total : 1760 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	204457
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I was en route from lvk to hwd, and called bay approach for flight following. I was given a transponder code, and informed of radar contact. Within a few mins, the controller told me to squawk VFR and resume own navigation. I was then about 5 or 6 mi from hwd, and indicating over 130 KTS. I immediately attempted to contact the hwd tower, but they were quite busy, and didn't answer until I was about 3 mi out. The tower asked me to call them, and I was asked why I didn't remain outside the arsa until contact was established. I had been expecting a handoff from bay approach, which they had not done. I feel that the abrupt manner of cutting off radar service, without adequate time to contact the tower, and the failure to hand me off to the tower were significant factors in my violating the arsa. If the approach controller had not accepted my flight for following, or if he had cut me loose 9 or 10 mi out, there would not have been a problem. Also, if he had said 'contact the tower, and remain outside the arsa until establishing contact' it would have alerted me to the true situation. I believe releasing a plane to VFR in close proximity to an arsa or control zone, with minimal instructions, is not conducive to safety. Also, tower advised me that there had been another plane on an intercepting course, though I perceived no real danger.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA GIVEN SQUAWK THEN RADAR CONTACT FOR FLT FOLLOWING AND ARSA TRANSIT. AT 5 TO 6 MI FROM ARPT TOLD SQUAWK VFR AND RESUME OWN NAV. UNABLE CONTACT TWR UNTIL 3 MI OUT.

Narrative: I WAS ENRTE FROM LVK TO HWD, AND CALLED BAY APCH FOR FLT FOLLOWING. I WAS GIVEN A TRANSPONDER CODE, AND INFORMED OF RADAR CONTACT. WITHIN A FEW MINS, THE CTLR TOLD ME TO SQUAWK VFR AND RESUME OWN NAV. I WAS THEN ABOUT 5 OR 6 MI FROM HWD, AND INDICATING OVER 130 KTS. I IMMEDIATELY ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE HWD TWR, BUT THEY WERE QUITE BUSY, AND DIDN'T ANSWER UNTIL I WAS ABOUT 3 MI OUT. THE TWR ASKED ME TO CALL THEM, AND I WAS ASKED WHY I DIDN'T REMAIN OUTSIDE THE ARSA UNTIL CONTACT WAS ESTABLISHED. I HAD BEEN EXPECTING A HDOF FROM BAY APCH, WHICH THEY HAD NOT DONE. I FEEL THAT THE ABRUPT MANNER OF CUTTING OFF RADAR SVC, WITHOUT ADEQUATE TIME TO CONTACT THE TWR, AND THE FAILURE TO HAND ME OFF TO THE TWR WERE SIGNIFICANT FACTORS IN MY VIOLATING THE ARSA. IF THE APCH CTLR HAD NOT ACCEPTED MY FLT FOR FOLLOWING, OR IF HE HAD CUT ME LOOSE 9 OR 10 MI OUT, THERE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM. ALSO, IF HE HAD SAID 'CONTACT THE TWR, AND REMAIN OUTSIDE THE ARSA UNTIL ESTABLISHING CONTACT' IT WOULD HAVE ALERTED ME TO THE TRUE SITUATION. I BELIEVE RELEASING A PLANE TO VFR IN CLOSE PROX TO AN ARSA OR CTL ZONE, WITH MINIMAL INSTRUCTIONS, IS NOT CONDUCIVE TO SAFETY. ALSO, TWR ADVISED ME THAT THERE HAD BEEN ANOTHER PLANE ON AN INTERCEPTING COURSE, THOUGH I PERCEIVED NO REAL DANGER.

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.

Small aircraft given squawk then radar contact for flight following and arsa transit. At 5 to 6 mi from airport told squawk VFR and resume own navigation. Unable contact tower until 3 mi out.