Small aircraft enters TCA, descends below floor.

Attributes
ACN	236029
Time
Date	199303
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : olm airport : sea
State Reference	WA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 8500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sea
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	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 : 10 flight time total : 1220 flight time type : 420
ASRS Report	236029
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Descending out of 8500 ft en route to bfi inadvertently entered arsa (90/30) without establishing 2-WAY radio contact. On realizing I had entered an arsa, I descended to 3000 ft. Problem arose on a long cross country and a long day and tiredness led to lack of attention. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter contacted primarily for counseling. He stated he really does know the difference between arsa and TCA but was so tired and wrote incorrectly. Fatigue was part of problem. Also stated he was asked on landing to call ATC but did not. Analyst recommended that he would be wise to be in contact with ATC at all times when transiting TCA area even if not intending to enter. At least they are aware of his intentions and don't have to second guess.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA ENTERS TCA, DSNDS BELOW FLOOR.

Narrative: DSNDING OUT OF 8500 FT ENRTE TO BFI INADVERTENTLY ENTERED ARSA (90/30) WITHOUT ESTABLISHING 2-WAY RADIO CONTACT. ON REALIZING I HAD ENTERED AN ARSA, I DSNDED TO 3000 FT. PROB AROSE ON A LONG XCOUNTRY AND A LONG DAY AND TIREDNESS LED TO LACK OF ATTN. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR CONTACTED PRIMARILY FOR COUNSELING. HE STATED HE REALLY DOES KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BTWN ARSA AND TCA BUT WAS SO TIRED AND WROTE INCORRECTLY. FATIGUE WAS PART OF PROB. ALSO STATED HE WAS ASKED ON LNDG TO CALL ATC BUT DID NOT. ANALYST RECOMMENDED THAT HE WOULD BE WISE TO BE IN CONTACT WITH ATC AT ALL TIMES WHEN TRANSITING TCA AREA EVEN IF NOT INTENDING TO ENTER. AT LEAST THEY ARE AWARE OF HIS INTENTIONS AND DON'T HAVE TO SECOND GUESS.

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.