Inexperienced private pilot squawks VFR prematurely upon exit from dc ADIZ.

Attributes
ACN	718139
Time
Date	200611
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : swann
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl single value : 2700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pct.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 80 flight time type : 80
ASRS Report	718139
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe airspace violation : entry non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Chart Or Publication Flight Crew Human Performance Airspace Structure FAA
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After departing martin state; I contacted potomac approach to request flight following. Immediately after my request the controller alerted 'aircraft 12 O'clock position; 3 mi.' after scanning I spotted an aircraft; reported 'aircraft in sight' and took evasive action. The controller then handed me over to 119.0. At this point I also changed my transponder (for exiting the ADIZ) to 1200/VFR. Before I idented myself to the new controller; he advised 'aircraft 12 O'clock position; 1 mi; 2700 ft; I cannot read your altitude.' it was the original aircraft but there had actually been 2 aircraft in the vicinity. My altitude was 2750 ft so I climbed. The aircraft was sighted and passed under and to our right. The controller then asked if I had switched transponder codes and I said that I squawked 1200 because I was clear of the ADIZ. He asked if I was told to do so and I said no. He then told me to go back; but continued to ask what I had been squawking and when I said XXXX he told me not to go back to that. Finally he assigned a new squawk. I believe I should not have changed transponder codes without asking. However; at the time I was not sure if I actually had been activated for flight following. The first controller did confirm 'radar contact;' but since I did not have a discrete transponder code I did not believe I actually had flight following.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INEXPERIENCED PVT PLT SQUAWKS VFR PREMATURELY UPON EXIT FROM DC ADIZ.

Narrative: AFTER DEPARTING MARTIN STATE; I CONTACTED POTOMAC APCH TO REQUEST FLT FOLLOWING. IMMEDIATELY AFTER MY REQUEST THE CTLR ALERTED 'ACFT 12 O'CLOCK POS; 3 MI.' AFTER SCANNING I SPOTTED AN ACFT; RPTED 'ACFT IN SIGHT' AND TOOK EVASIVE ACTION. THE CTLR THEN HANDED ME OVER TO 119.0. AT THIS POINT I ALSO CHANGED MY XPONDER (FOR EXITING THE ADIZ) TO 1200/VFR. BEFORE I IDENTED MYSELF TO THE NEW CTLR; HE ADVISED 'ACFT 12 O'CLOCK POS; 1 MI; 2700 FT; I CANNOT READ YOUR ALT.' IT WAS THE ORIGINAL ACFT BUT THERE HAD ACTUALLY BEEN 2 ACFT IN THE VICINITY. MY ALT WAS 2750 FT SO I CLBED. THE ACFT WAS SIGHTED AND PASSED UNDER AND TO OUR R. THE CTLR THEN ASKED IF I HAD SWITCHED XPONDER CODES AND I SAID THAT I SQUAWKED 1200 BECAUSE I WAS CLR OF THE ADIZ. HE ASKED IF I WAS TOLD TO DO SO AND I SAID NO. HE THEN TOLD ME TO GO BACK; BUT CONTINUED TO ASK WHAT I HAD BEEN SQUAWKING AND WHEN I SAID XXXX HE TOLD ME NOT TO GO BACK TO THAT. FINALLY HE ASSIGNED A NEW SQUAWK. I BELIEVE I SHOULD NOT HAVE CHANGED XPONDER CODES WITHOUT ASKING. HOWEVER; AT THE TIME I WAS NOT SURE IF I ACTUALLY HAD BEEN ACTIVATED FOR FLT FOLLOWING. THE FIRST CTLR DID CONFIRM 'RADAR CONTACT;' BUT SINCE I DID NOT HAVE A DISCRETE XPONDER CODE I DID NOT BELIEVE I ACTUALLY HAD FLT FOLLOWING.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.