Narrative:

The route of flight took me over the st. Louis, mo area. At about XA30 am CST, while still east of the TCA I crossed over the vandalia VOR. I contacted st louis radio and updated WX. I then contacted st louis approach and was told to try another frequency. I did so and was refused entry into the TCA. No reason was given and I do not remember an altimeter setting given. I elected to fly west off of the vandalia VOR and remain just north of the TCA. I indicated 6500' and began descending when north of the st. Louis VOR down to 4500'. I began a left turn under the extension of the TCA and continued my descent. At all times I thought I was clear of the TCA. When I was north of the forestall VOR I headed south to it. Approximately 10 miles north of the VOR I was contacted by approach control and told to switch to another frequency. I did so and spoke to a supervisor. She informed me I cut through the TCA and that a jet had to be vectored around me. I was instructed to call her when on the ground. But before our conversation ended, I apologized and indicated that I thought I had remained clear. I also informed her that I moved the st louis VOR outside of the TCA with my RNAV. It had been repaired three times within the last month. I indicated who performed the work. I also brought to her attention that I had tried to contact approach for handling and had been refused. I also had remained outside the TCA for 30-40 minutes while wbound until I used the RNAV. I also asked why the controller had not contacted me when he saw me allegedly entering the TCA, and that he contacted me afterwards without a problem. Supervisor asked me to contact her on the ground. I did so and furnished her with aircraft and personal information. She then stated the information will then be reviewed. If there is going to be some type of investigation and violations issued I wish to obtain copies of the voice communication, flight path, and current traffic being worked in the area during this time frame. I would like to know what happens from this point. Please advise. Callback conversation with reporter revealed following information. Reporter has had no further contact with the FAA. Feels was clear of the TCA at all times. Advised ASRS does not have copies of the tower tapes and explained his rights under the program. WX conditions prevented flight at 8500'. In the future he plans to file IFR when penetrating this area.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALLEDGED TCA PENETRATION WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: THE ROUTE OF FLT TOOK ME OVER THE ST. LOUIS, MO AREA. AT ABOUT XA30 AM CST, WHILE STILL EAST OF THE TCA I CROSSED OVER THE VANDALIA VOR. I CONTACTED ST LOUIS RADIO AND UPDATED WX. I THEN CONTACTED ST LOUIS APCH AND WAS TOLD TO TRY ANOTHER FREQ. I DID SO AND WAS REFUSED ENTRY INTO THE TCA. NO REASON WAS GIVEN AND I DO NOT REMEMBER AN ALTIMETER SETTING GIVEN. I ELECTED TO FLY WEST OFF OF THE VANDALIA VOR AND REMAIN JUST NORTH OF THE TCA. I INDICATED 6500' AND BEGAN DSNDING WHEN NORTH OF THE ST. LOUIS VOR DOWN TO 4500'. I BEGAN A LEFT TURN UNDER THE EXTENSION OF THE TCA AND CONTINUED MY DSCNT. AT ALL TIMES I THOUGHT I WAS CLR OF THE TCA. WHEN I WAS NORTH OF THE FORESTALL VOR I HEADED SOUTH TO IT. APPROX 10 MILES N OF THE VOR I WAS CONTACTED BY APCH CTL AND TOLD TO SWITCH TO ANOTHER FREQ. I DID SO AND SPOKE TO A SUPVR. SHE INFORMED ME I CUT THROUGH THE TCA AND THAT A JET HAD TO BE VECTORED AROUND ME. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO CALL HER WHEN ON THE GND. BUT BEFORE OUR CONVERSATION ENDED, I APOLOGIZED AND INDICATED THAT I THOUGHT I HAD REMAINED CLR. I ALSO INFORMED HER THAT I MOVED THE ST LOUIS VOR OUTSIDE OF THE TCA WITH MY RNAV. IT HAD BEEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES WITHIN THE LAST MONTH. I INDICATED WHO PERFORMED THE WORK. I ALSO BROUGHT TO HER ATTN THAT I HAD TRIED TO CONTACT APCH FOR HANDLING AND HAD BEEN REFUSED. I ALSO HAD REMAINED OUTSIDE THE TCA FOR 30-40 MINUTES WHILE WBOUND UNTIL I USED THE RNAV. I ALSO ASKED WHY THE CTLR HAD NOT CONTACTED ME WHEN HE SAW ME ALLEGEDLY ENTERING THE TCA, AND THAT HE CONTACTED ME AFTERWARDS WITHOUT A PROB. SUPVR ASKED ME TO CONTACT HER ON THE GND. I DID SO AND FURNISHED HER WITH ACFT AND PERSONAL INFO. SHE THEN STATED THE INFO WILL THEN BE REVIEWED. IF THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME TYPE OF INVESTIGATION AND VIOLATIONS ISSUED I WISH TO OBTAIN COPIES OF THE VOICE COM, FLT PATH, AND CURRENT TFC BEING WORKED IN THE AREA DURING THIS TIME FRAME. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS FROM THIS POINT. PLEASE ADVISE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED FOLLOWING INFO. RPTR HAS HAD NO FURTHER CONTACT WITH THE FAA. FEELS WAS CLR OF THE TCA AT ALL TIMES. ADVISED ASRS DOES NOT HAVE COPIES OF THE TWR TAPES AND EXPLAINED HIS RIGHTS UNDER THE PROGRAM. WX CONDITIONS PREVENTED FLT AT 8500'. IN THE FUTURE HE PLANS TO FILE IFR WHEN PENETRATING THIS AREA.

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.