An small aircraft climbed into the TCA without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	226093
Time
Date	199211
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bwi airport : gai
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1800 msl bound upper : 3700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bwi
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 350 flight time type : 15
ASRS Report	226093
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Took off from gai. Contacted bwi approach. Wanted a climb to 5500 ft, currently at 1800 ft, I thought the controller told me I was in radar contact after giving a squawk to me, so I continued climb. At 3700 ft, controller advised I was in TCA without a clearance (floor of TCA was 3500). I told controller I thought he said I was radar contact. He said no. I immediately descended to 3500 at which time he cleared me into the TCA and I then climbed to 5500.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA CLBED INTO THE TCA WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: TOOK OFF FROM GAI. CONTACTED BWI APCH. WANTED A CLB TO 5500 FT, CURRENTLY AT 1800 FT, I THOUGHT THE CTLR TOLD ME I WAS IN RADAR CONTACT AFTER GIVING A SQUAWK TO ME, SO I CONTINUED CLB. AT 3700 FT, CTLR ADVISED I WAS IN TCA WITHOUT A CLRNC (FLOOR OF TCA WAS 3500). I TOLD CTLR I THOUGHT HE SAID I WAS RADAR CONTACT. HE SAID NO. I IMMEDIATELY DSNDED TO 3500 AT WHICH TIME HE CLRED ME INTO THE TCA AND I THEN CLBED TO 5500.

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.