No real anomaly occurred. Reported TCA penetration.

Attributes
ACN	89713
Time
Date	198806
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : phl
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : cle
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 15
ASRS Report	89713
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I was told after I landed at wilmington, de, that philadelphia said I went into their space. I did not believe I did. I had gone on the left (west) side of the philadelphia TCA and thought I was clear but philadelphia told wilmington that I wasn't. To prevent this from happening I will go direct to pottstown VOR and south to wilmington. The main reason I didn't call philadelphia was you can never get through. If you approach it from the north they will tell you to stay clear and then you have to keep calling until they answer. I have expended 20 minutes and longer circling on the north side. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: callback indicates pilot flies this route regularly and maintains 2500' to avoid TCA. Used to contact willow grove (navy) for transition and then be handed off to phl approach. Would have to circle over the turnpike many times before any response from phl. It is virtually impossible for general aviation pilots to get response from approach. Most local pilots fly west outside or under TCA. Reporter feels controller attitude is that general aviation does not belong in the TCA and they vector them long distances around when pilots try to transition. Reporter was asked to remain on ground frequency after landing as approach was going to call back. Approach never called.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NO REAL ANOMALY OCCURRED. REPORTED TCA PENETRATION.

Narrative: I WAS TOLD AFTER I LANDED AT WILMINGTON, DE, THAT PHILADELPHIA SAID I WENT INTO THEIR SPACE. I DID NOT BELIEVE I DID. I HAD GONE ON THE LEFT (WEST) SIDE OF THE PHILADELPHIA TCA AND THOUGHT I WAS CLEAR BUT PHILADELPHIA TOLD WILMINGTON THAT I WASN'T. TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING I WILL GO DIRECT TO POTTSTOWN VOR AND SOUTH TO WILMINGTON. THE MAIN REASON I DIDN'T CALL PHILADELPHIA WAS YOU CAN NEVER GET THROUGH. IF YOU APCH IT FROM THE NORTH THEY WILL TELL YOU TO STAY CLEAR AND THEN YOU HAVE TO KEEP CALLING UNTIL THEY ANSWER. I HAVE EXPENDED 20 MINUTES AND LONGER CIRCLING ON THE NORTH SIDE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH REPORTER REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: CALLBACK INDICATES PLT FLIES THIS ROUTE REGULARLY AND MAINTAINS 2500' TO AVOID TCA. USED TO CONTACT WILLOW GROVE (NAVY) FOR TRANSITION AND THEN BE HANDED OFF TO PHL APCH. WOULD HAVE TO CIRCLE OVER THE TURNPIKE MANY TIMES BEFORE ANY RESPONSE FROM PHL. IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR GENERAL AVIATION PLTS TO GET RESPONSE FROM APCH. MOST LCL PLTS FLY WEST OUTSIDE OR UNDER TCA. REPORTER FEELS CTLR ATTITUDE IS THAT GENERAL AVIATION DOES NOT BELONG IN THE TCA AND THEY VECTOR THEM LONG DISTANCES AROUND WHEN PLTS TRY TO TRANSITION. REPORTER WAS ASKED TO REMAIN ON GND FREQ AFTER LNDG AS APCH WAS GOING TO CALL BACK. APCH NEVER CALLED.

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.