Narrative:

Training flight, aircraft transponder equipped but no mode C. CFI on board. En route from west practice area to mccarran international (A481), 20 mi out on 310 degree right, las VORTAC. Altitude 6000', airspeed 115 KTS (indicated). CFI would not permit student pilot to contact approach control, as she felt we were, 'too far out.' upon contacting approach control, was advised we had entered the TCA in violation of regulations. Violation occurred while at 6000'. Entered TCA at 90/45 layer. Factors: night, lackadaisical instruction, and pilot trusted CFI, who trusted memory as to TCA boundaries.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: STUDENT PLT RETURNING FROM TRAINING FLT FAILED TO CONTACT TRACON SOON ENOUGH, PENETRATED TCA.

Narrative: TRNING FLT, ACFT XPONDER EQUIPPED BUT NO MODE C. CFI ON BOARD. ENRTE FROM W PRACTICE AREA TO MCCARRAN INTL (A481), 20 MI OUT ON 310 DEG R, LAS VORTAC. ALT 6000', AIRSPD 115 KTS (INDICATED). CFI WOULD NOT PERMIT STUDENT PLT TO CONTACT APCH CTL, AS SHE FELT WE WERE, 'TOO FAR OUT.' UPON CONTACTING APCH CTL, WAS ADVISED WE HAD ENTERED THE TCA IN VIOLATION OF REGS. VIOLATION OCCURRED WHILE AT 6000'. ENTERED TCA AT 90/45 LAYER. FACTORS: NIGHT, LACKADAISICAL INSTRUCTION, AND PLT TRUSTED CFI, WHO TRUSTED MEMORY AS TO TCA BOUNDARIES.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.