M20P pilot entered dc ADIZ without clearance or a discrete transponder code.

Attributes
ACN	579774
Time
Date	200304
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : anp.airport
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl single value : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pct.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	M-20 E Super 21
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 9.2 flight time total : 1405 flight time type : 1284
ASRS Report	579774
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : investigated faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance FAA
Primary Problem	FAA

Narrative:

I called FSS. I was aware of special restrs around the dc tfr. I was unsure of exactly how to comply. When I called FSS, I specifically asked the following question: 'if I remain clear of the class B airspace do I need to file IFR.' I was specifically told 'no, if you stay clear and remain outside class B you do not need to file IFR?' he did not explain that even though I was not in class B that as long as I was below class B then I still needed to file, either IFR or VFR. There was no explanation of needing to file at all. I recognize that it is ultimately my responsibility to find out and understand the regulations whether temporary or permanent. I would just like to go on record as saying that I didn't blindly ignore nor was I oblivious to the tfr area, I just didn't understand it. I did make an effort to get a clarification. I just was not told the full explanation or did not totally understand the explanation as given. I complied as I understood and upon departure out of lee airport flew due east to remain clear of class B. I immediately contacted bwi approach to request radar advisories. That is when I was told that I was in violation and was requested to call bwi tower upon landing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: M20P PLT ENTERED DC ADIZ WITHOUT CLRNC OR A DISCRETE XPONDER CODE.

Narrative: I CALLED FSS. I WAS AWARE OF SPECIAL RESTRS AROUND THE DC TFR. I WAS UNSURE OF EXACTLY HOW TO COMPLY. WHEN I CALLED FSS, I SPECIFICALLY ASKED THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: 'IF I REMAIN CLR OF THE CLASS B AIRSPACE DO I NEED TO FILE IFR.' I WAS SPECIFICALLY TOLD 'NO, IF YOU STAY CLR AND REMAIN OUTSIDE CLASS B YOU DO NOT NEED TO FILE IFR?' HE DID NOT EXPLAIN THAT EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT IN CLASS B THAT AS LONG AS I WAS BELOW CLASS B THEN I STILL NEEDED TO FILE, EITHER IFR OR VFR. THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION OF NEEDING TO FILE AT ALL. I RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS ULTIMATELY MY RESPONSIBILITY TO FIND OUT AND UNDERSTAND THE REGULATIONS WHETHER TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO GO ON RECORD AS SAYING THAT I DIDN'T BLINDLY IGNORE NOR WAS I OBLIVIOUS TO THE TFR AREA, I JUST DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT. I DID MAKE AN EFFORT TO GET A CLARIFICATION. I JUST WAS NOT TOLD THE FULL EXPLANATION OR DID NOT TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THE EXPLANATION AS GIVEN. I COMPLIED AS I UNDERSTOOD AND UPON DEP OUT OF LEE ARPT FLEW DUE E TO REMAIN CLR OF CLASS B. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED BWI APCH TO REQUEST RADAR ADVISORIES. THAT IS WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS IN VIOLATION AND WAS REQUESTED TO CALL BWI TWR UPON LNDG.

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.