Communication CFI pilot of small aircraft sel aircraft inadvertently penetrated a TCA.

Attributes
ACN	223097
Time
Date	199210
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : adw airport : cgs
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bwi
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 1580 flight time type : 15
ASRS Report	223097
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I departed ilg, followed V170 to swann intersection and went south of swann about 10 mi northeast of swann. They gave me 119.7 frequency and I was given a squawk code and a clearance into the baltimore TCA. I had descended from 6500 to 5500 then to 2500 when I turned west to 275 degree to go RNAV direct to gcs. The RNAV was set to 115.1 on the #1 navigation and the 235 degree radial at 16.7 DME. I proceeded just north of annapolis toward cgs and was cleared lower to 1700 ft. Baltimore approach terminated radar service at about 5 mi east of cgs which is what the RNAV was showing as well. The DME was set to 115.1 and was showing 10-12 mi and increasing. However, the RNAV was showing the bearing to the station from 275 degree initially to 250 the 220 etc. By this time the DME off of 115.1 indicated 15-17 mi from the VORTAC. I have been to cgs on one other occasion and started to look for the university of maryland. However, as I could not recognize anything I knew something was wrong because the RNAV had me going too far south and the #2 VOR set on the 235 degree radial out of 115.1 was not coming in. As I started to circle I was 18 mi or so on the DME and on the 220 degree radial out of baltimore. Also, I spotted the arena with the concave roof about 1 1/2 mi away or so. I also saw a large airport south to southwest that was andrews AFB. It looked 7 mi away or so but I was circling and was not sure if I had entered the TCA or not. At this time I realized I was now where I wanted to be and turned to a heading of 040 or so to leave the area. I used the #2 na on 235 degree radial off of 115.1 with the DME to get just northeast of cgs turn left and finally recognize the university of maryland and find the airport. I entered the pattern at cgs and the RNAV indicated 220 degree bearing at 4 mi, the #2 navigation and DME were directly on. I believe I was either close to or inside of the 7 adw ring of the washington TCA by the arena.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COM CFI PLT OF SMA SEL ACFT INADVERTENTLY PENETRATED A TCA.

Narrative: I DEPARTED ILG, FOLLOWED V170 TO SWANN INTXN AND WENT S OF SWANN ABOUT 10 MI NE OF SWANN. THEY GAVE ME 119.7 FREQ AND I WAS GIVEN A SQUAWK CODE AND A CLRNC INTO THE BALTIMORE TCA. I HAD DSNDED FROM 6500 TO 5500 THEN TO 2500 WHEN I TURNED W TO 275 DEG TO GO RNAV DIRECT TO GCS. THE RNAV WAS SET TO 115.1 ON THE #1 NAV AND THE 235 DEG RADIAL AT 16.7 DME. I PROCEEDED JUST N OF ANNAPOLIS TOWARD CGS AND WAS CLRED LOWER TO 1700 FT. BALTIMORE APCH TERMINATED RADAR SVC AT ABOUT 5 MI E OF CGS WHICH IS WHAT THE RNAV WAS SHOWING AS WELL. THE DME WAS SET TO 115.1 AND WAS SHOWING 10-12 MI AND INCREASING. HOWEVER, THE RNAV WAS SHOWING THE BEARING TO THE STATION FROM 275 DEG INITIALLY TO 250 THE 220 ETC. BY THIS TIME THE DME OFF OF 115.1 INDICATED 15-17 MI FROM THE VORTAC. I HAVE BEEN TO CGS ON ONE OTHER OCCASION AND STARTED TO LOOK FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND. HOWEVER, AS I COULD NOT RECOGNIZE ANYTHING I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG BECAUSE THE RNAV HAD ME GOING TOO FAR S AND THE #2 VOR SET ON THE 235 DEG RADIAL OUT OF 115.1 WAS NOT COMING IN. AS I STARTED TO CIRCLE I WAS 18 MI OR SO ON THE DME AND ON THE 220 DEG RADIAL OUT OF BALTIMORE. ALSO, I SPOTTED THE ARENA WITH THE CONCAVE ROOF ABOUT 1 1/2 MI AWAY OR SO. I ALSO SAW A LARGE ARPT S TO SW THAT WAS ANDREWS AFB. IT LOOKED 7 MI AWAY OR SO BUT I WAS CIRCLING AND WAS NOT SURE IF I HAD ENTERED THE TCA OR NOT. AT THIS TIME I REALIZED I WAS NOW WHERE I WANTED TO BE AND TURNED TO A HDG OF 040 OR SO TO LEAVE THE AREA. I USED THE #2 NA ON 235 DEG RADIAL OFF OF 115.1 WITH THE DME TO GET JUST NE OF CGS TURN L AND FINALLY RECOGNIZE THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND AND FIND THE ARPT. I ENTERED THE PATTERN AT CGS AND THE RNAV INDICATED 220 DEG BEARING AT 4 MI, THE #2 NAV AND DME WERE DIRECTLY ON. I BELIEVE I WAS EITHER CLOSE TO OR INSIDE OF THE 7 ADW RING OF THE WASHINGTON TCA BY THE ARENA.

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.