Pilot of PA28-140 is told to squawk VFR and contact approach. When he does so, he is told to stand b...

Attributes
ACN	407230
Time
Date	199806
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : stl
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6500 msl bound upper : 6500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc tracon : stl tower : abq
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 170 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	407230
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was assigned a center squawk code all the way through to H41 from ZID. Handed off to ZKC. ZDC upon approach to stl airspace canceled the code and told me to squawk VFR and contact stl approach. Stl approach was saturated with IFR traffic and told me to stand by -- not stay clear -- just stand by. I turned 60 degrees left and then continued west. I penetrated their airspace at this time and I contacted stl approach again and was told a second time to stand by. I continued on course towards H41 (mexico, mo). Stl never came back and I cleared their airspace. Possibility of penetrating their airspace of 8000 ft ceiling and a floor of 4000 ft. I was at 6500 ft. This confused me, since every other time that I was on flight following, and this happened I was told either to stand by on course, or to stay clear of their particular airspace and stand by. They knew where I was because I heard them telling other traffic my position and altitude. As far as I am concerned, I believe I did what I was told.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF PA28-140 IS TOLD TO SQUAWK VFR AND CONTACT APCH. WHEN HE DOES SO, HE IS TOLD TO STAND BY. HE THEN TURNS TO AVOID THE CLASS B BUT PENETRATES THE AIRSPACE.

Narrative: I WAS ASSIGNED A CTR SQUAWK CODE ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO H41 FROM ZID. HANDED OFF TO ZKC. ZDC UPON APCH TO STL AIRSPACE CANCELED THE CODE AND TOLD ME TO SQUAWK VFR AND CONTACT STL APCH. STL APCH WAS SATURATED WITH IFR TFC AND TOLD ME TO STAND BY -- NOT STAY CLR -- JUST STAND BY. I TURNED 60 DEGS L AND THEN CONTINUED W. I PENETRATED THEIR AIRSPACE AT THIS TIME AND I CONTACTED STL APCH AGAIN AND WAS TOLD A SECOND TIME TO STAND BY. I CONTINUED ON COURSE TOWARDS H41 (MEXICO, MO). STL NEVER CAME BACK AND I CLRED THEIR AIRSPACE. POSSIBILITY OF PENETRATING THEIR AIRSPACE OF 8000 FT CEILING AND A FLOOR OF 4000 FT. I WAS AT 6500 FT. THIS CONFUSED ME, SINCE EVERY OTHER TIME THAT I WAS ON FLT FOLLOWING, AND THIS HAPPENED I WAS TOLD EITHER TO STAND BY ON COURSE, OR TO STAY CLR OF THEIR PARTICULAR AIRSPACE AND STAND BY. THEY KNEW WHERE I WAS BECAUSE I HEARD THEM TELLING OTHER TFC MY POS AND ALT. AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, I BELIEVE I DID WHAT I WAS TOLD.

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.

Pilot of PA28-140 is told to squawk VFR and contact approach. When he does so, he is told to stand by. He then turns to avoid the class B but penetrates the airspace.