Narrative:

The flight was day VFR from northeast philadelphia to lincoln park, nj. WX cavu with a 15 to 20 KT tailwind. Transponder 1200, mode C. En route altitude 5500'. Shortly after passing solberg VOR started descent (approximately 1000 FPM) to 2500' in order to go under ny TCA which has a 3000' floor in that area. No nearby traffic observed. Approached morristown (mmu), called the tower for clearance through at 2500'. Cleared through and tower requested complete north number, identify, and upon landing call ny TRACON at 516----. Second transmission from tower to inform me I can call ny TRACON on --(frequency) now. Called them. They informed me I penetrated the TCA at 4000' and to call them on the 800 number upon landing. From 4000' to 3000' is one minute at 1000 FPM. Called TRACON after landing and was again informed of the alleged incursion and was told it interfered with jet traffic to teterboro. Lesson to be learned. If you are trying to work with the system, i.e. Transmitting mode C and identifying in local airspace, do not make an ETA error of as much as one additional minute when VFR, a hassle from the local FAA can result. The ways to avoid the hassle are obvious but some of the options are less than desirable. Callback conversation with reporter revealed following. Reporter admitted he did not start his descent as he passed over sbj. With the 20 KT tailwind figures he was probably very close to the TCA boundary but on the way down. Did not see any traffic in the area and does not believe any conflict resulted. Was using transponder mode C and counseled to use transponder at all times, even if not in contact with controller. Discussed incident with supervisor as per request and he does not feel any further action will be taken.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TCA PENETRATION WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: THE FLT WAS DAY VFR FROM NE PHILADELPHIA TO LINCOLN PARK, NJ. WX CAVU WITH A 15 TO 20 KT TAILWIND. TRANSPONDER 1200, MODE C. ENRTE ALT 5500'. SHORTLY AFTER PASSING SOLBERG VOR STARTED DSCNT (APPROX 1000 FPM) TO 2500' IN ORDER TO GO UNDER NY TCA WHICH HAS A 3000' FLOOR IN THAT AREA. NO NEARBY TFC OBSERVED. APCHED MORRISTOWN (MMU), CALLED THE TWR FOR CLRNC THROUGH AT 2500'. CLRED THROUGH AND TWR REQUESTED COMPLETE N NUMBER, IDENT, AND UPON LNDG CALL NY TRACON AT 516----. SECOND XMISSION FROM TWR TO INFORM ME I CAN CALL NY TRACON ON --(FREQ) NOW. CALLED THEM. THEY INFORMED ME I PENETRATED THE TCA AT 4000' AND TO CALL THEM ON THE 800 NUMBER UPON LNDG. FROM 4000' TO 3000' IS ONE MINUTE AT 1000 FPM. CALLED TRACON AFTER LNDG AND WAS AGAIN INFORMED OF THE ALLEGED INCURSION AND WAS TOLD IT INTERFERED WITH JET TFC TO TETERBORO. LESSON TO BE LEARNED. IF YOU ARE TRYING TO WORK WITH THE SYS, I.E. TRANSMITTING MODE C AND IDENTIFYING IN LCL AIRSPACE, DO NOT MAKE AN ETA ERROR OF AS MUCH AS ONE ADDITIONAL MINUTE WHEN VFR, A HASSLE FROM THE LCL FAA CAN RESULT. THE WAYS TO AVOID THE HASSLE ARE OBVIOUS BUT SOME OF THE OPTIONS ARE LESS THAN DESIRABLE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED FOLLOWING. RPTR ADMITTED HE DID NOT START HIS DSCNT AS HE PASSED OVER SBJ. WITH THE 20 KT TAILWIND FIGURES HE WAS PROBABLY VERY CLOSE TO THE TCA BOUNDARY BUT ON THE WAY DOWN. DID NOT SEE ANY TFC IN THE AREA AND DOES NOT BELIEVE ANY CONFLICT RESULTED. WAS USING TRANSPONDER MODE C AND COUNSELED TO USE TRANSPONDER AT ALL TIMES, EVEN IF NOT IN CONTACT WITH CTLR. DISCUSSED INCIDENT WITH SUPVR AS PER REQUEST AND HE DOES NOT FEEL ANY FURTHER ACTION WILL BE TAKEN.

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.