<< >> NASA ASRS Report 411100, August 1998

Pilot established communication with sbn approach 12 mi out and requested a clearance into sbn class C airspace. Controller issued the pilot a transponder code and 8 mi out informed him that he had not been cleared into the airspace.

Attributes
ACN	411100
Time
Date	199808
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sbn
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sbn
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 900 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	411100
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Called for VFR clearance into sbn airspace approximately 16 mi out at 2500 ft altitude. After several calls, finally reached approach controller at 12 mi out. He assigned me a squawk code and I wrongly assumed that I had been cleared into his airspace via the issuance of the transponder code. At approximately 8 mi out, the controller informed me that I had not been cleared into his airspace. In retrospect, I know now that the controller did not issue me a 'radar contact' clearance. I should have been more alert and not have 'assumed' that I had clearance into sbn airspace!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT ESTABLISHED COM WITH SBN APCH 12 MI OUT AND REQUESTED A CLRNC INTO SBN CLASS C AIRSPACE. CTLR ISSUED THE PLT A XPONDER CODE AND 8 MI OUT INFORMED HIM THAT HE HAD NOT BEEN CLRED INTO THE AIRSPACE.

Narrative: CALLED FOR VFR CLRNC INTO SBN AIRSPACE APPROX 16 MI OUT AT 2500 FT ALT. AFTER SEVERAL CALLS, FINALLY REACHED APCH CTLR AT 12 MI OUT. HE ASSIGNED ME A SQUAWK CODE AND I WRONGLY ASSUMED THAT I HAD BEEN CLRED INTO HIS AIRSPACE VIA THE ISSUANCE OF THE XPONDER CODE. AT APPROX 8 MI OUT, THE CTLR INFORMED ME THAT I HAD NOT BEEN CLRED INTO HIS AIRSPACE. IN RETROSPECT, I KNOW NOW THAT THE CTLR DID NOT ISSUE ME A 'RADAR CONTACT' CLRNC. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE ALERT AND NOT HAVE 'ASSUMED' THAT I HAD CLRNC INTO SBN AIRSPACE!

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.