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Pilot of trin mistakenly changes transponder code to VFR (1200) when cleared to make a 'VFR descent' by the controller while within the dc ADIZ.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 577369 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200303 |
| Day | Tue |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | navaid : csn.vortac |
| State Reference | VA |
| Altitude | msl single value : 3000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : pct.tracon |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Trinidad TB-21 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Route In Use | approach : visual |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : private |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 13.9 flight time total : 135.5 flight time type : 99.9 |
| ASRS Report | 577369 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance non adherence other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued alert other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance FAA Environmental Factor Airspace Structure |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
| Situations | |
| Airspace Structure | special use : dcadiz.othersua |
Narrative:
Over csn I contacted potomac approach and was given a discrete transponder code. In addition, I was cleared into the dcadiz. I proceeded direct to hef at 3000 MSL and entered the ADIZ. My transponder was properly set, which was confirmed by radar contact before entry into the ADIZ. ATC reported traffic, which I confirmed when 10 NM from esn. I then reported hef in sight. ATC advised a 'VFR descent to 2000 ft.' I began my descent and in error squawked 1200. I was also told to switch to tower. When on tower frequency I was asked to squawk the discrete code. I complied with the request. This approach and descent was performed under the hood while simulating IFR with instructor. The error of changing code to 1200 was promptly reported. This violation was inadvertent not deliberate, and does not constitute a criminal offense. The lesson learned was to never change transponder code without confirmation repeat to ATC.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PLT OF TRIN MISTAKENLY CHANGES XPONDER CODE TO VFR (1200) WHEN CLRED TO MAKE A 'VFR DESCENT' BY THE CTLR WHILE WITHIN THE DC ADIZ.
Narrative: OVER CSN I CONTACTED POTOMAC APCH AND WAS GIVEN A DISCRETE XPONDER CODE. IN ADDITION, I WAS CLRED INTO THE DCADIZ. I PROCEEDED DIRECT TO HEF AT 3000 MSL AND ENTERED THE ADIZ. MY XPONDER WAS PROPERLY SET, WHICH WAS CONFIRMED BY RADAR CONTACT BEFORE ENTRY INTO THE ADIZ. ATC RPTED TFC, WHICH I CONFIRMED WHEN 10 NM FROM ESN. I THEN RPTED HEF IN SIGHT. ATC ADVISED A 'VFR DESCENT TO 2000 FT.' I BEGAN MY DESCENT AND IN ERROR SQUAWKED 1200. I WAS ALSO TOLD TO SWITCH TO TWR. WHEN ON TWR FREQUENCY I WAS ASKED TO SQUAWK THE DISCRETE CODE. I COMPLIED WITH THE REQUEST. THIS APCH AND DESCENT WAS PERFORMED UNDER THE HOOD WHILE SIMULATING IFR WITH INSTRUCTOR. THE ERROR OF CHANGING CODE TO 1200 WAS PROMPTLY RPTED. THIS VIOLATION WAS INADVERTENT NOT DELIBERATE, AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. THE LESSON LEARNED WAS TO NEVER CHANGE XPONDER CODE WITHOUT CONFIRMATION REPEAT TO ATC.
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.