<< >> NASA ASRS Report 436340, April 1999

GA pilot looking for radar service into an uncontrolled field near smf and travis AFB was instructed to switch frequencys, idented, and terminated, twice by the 2 approach control facilities in the area.

Attributes
ACN	436340
Time
Date	199904
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : q96.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 3700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : suu.tracon tracon : riu.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival : vfr
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 34 flight time total : 1487 flight time type : 736
ASRS Report	436340
Person 2
Function	controller : approach controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

When I was about 22 NM west of Q96 (8 NM from sac class C) I called sac approach and gave them my position. I was told to contact travis approach. I did and was given a squawk, when they idented me, I requested to descend. They said 'remain VFR.' as I approached 3700 ft, travis said squawk VFR radar service terminated suggest sac approach on 125.25 class C 2 mi. I pushed FLIP-flop (125.25 already selected) and called sac approach, I also selected map mode on GPS to check class C, I was approaching boundary and leveled off at 3700 ft and turned north. I called sac a second time and told them where I was and at what altitude and that travis had just dropped me off. Sac gave me a new squawk and requested I stay at 2500 ft or higher. I crossed over smf's approach path and when east of runways, sac told me to squawk 1200, frequency change to advisory. Travis should have handed me off or given me more time to contact sac approach. This would have made the transition smoother and safer.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA PLT LOOKING FOR RADAR SVC INTO AN UNCTLED FIELD NEAR SMF AND TRAVIS AFB WAS INSTRUCTED TO SWITCH FREQS, IDENTED, AND TERMINATED, TWICE BY THE 2 APCH CTL FACILITIES IN THE AREA.

Narrative: WHEN I WAS ABOUT 22 NM W OF Q96 (8 NM FROM SAC CLASS C) I CALLED SAC APCH AND GAVE THEM MY POS. I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT TRAVIS APCH. I DID AND WAS GIVEN A SQUAWK, WHEN THEY IDENTED ME, I REQUESTED TO DSND. THEY SAID 'REMAIN VFR.' AS I APCHED 3700 FT, TRAVIS SAID SQUAWK VFR RADAR SVC TERMINATED SUGGEST SAC APCH ON 125.25 CLASS C 2 MI. I PUSHED FLIP-FLOP (125.25 ALREADY SELECTED) AND CALLED SAC APCH, I ALSO SELECTED MAP MODE ON GPS TO CHK CLASS C, I WAS APCHING BOUNDARY AND LEVELED OFF AT 3700 FT AND TURNED N. I CALLED SAC A SECOND TIME AND TOLD THEM WHERE I WAS AND AT WHAT ALT AND THAT TRAVIS HAD JUST DROPPED ME OFF. SAC GAVE ME A NEW SQUAWK AND REQUESTED I STAY AT 2500 FT OR HIGHER. I CROSSED OVER SMF'S APCH PATH AND WHEN E OF RWYS, SAC TOLD ME TO SQUAWK 1200, FREQ CHANGE TO ADVISORY. TRAVIS SHOULD HAVE HANDED ME OFF OR GIVEN ME MORE TIME TO CONTACT SAC APCH. THIS WOULD HAVE MADE THE TRANSITION SMOOTHER AND SAFER.

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.