GA small aircraft unauthorized penetration of airspace stl TCA.

Attributes
ACN	91390
Time
Date	198807
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : stl
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : stl
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 142 flight time total : 2800
ASRS Report	91390
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On a VFR flight from new smyrna beach, fl, to minneapolis, mn, I received flight following the whole way. Approximately 100 mi southeast of stl I was handed over to, I believe, evansville approach. I got 4000' approved because of scattered clouds at 2500'. I expected handover to stl approach. After not hearing anything, I called for radio check. All I got was, 'radar service terminated, squawk 1200.' by then I was 1 mi from the TCA. I contacted stl approach, and by the time we got squared away, I was informed that I was inside the TCA by 2 mi. (My DME showed me on the edge outside.) in my opinion, air safety would be greatly improved if flight following would be available at all times and taken seriously by ATC. It would certainly be more productive than playing highway patrol of the sky. There was no other traffic on the frequency at the time. I might add that 80% of the time I get excellent service re: flight following, 10% is ok, but 10% it is indifferent or outright hostile.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA UNAUTH PENETRATION OF AIRSPACE STL TCA.

Narrative: ON A VFR FLT FROM NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FL, TO MINNEAPOLIS, MN, I RECEIVED FLT FOLLOWING THE WHOLE WAY. APPROX 100 MI SE OF STL I WAS HANDED OVER TO, I BELIEVE, EVANSVILLE APCH. I GOT 4000' APPROVED BECAUSE OF SCATTERED CLOUDS AT 2500'. I EXPECTED HANDOVER TO STL APCH. AFTER NOT HEARING ANYTHING, I CALLED FOR RADIO CHK. ALL I GOT WAS, 'RADAR SVC TERMINATED, SQUAWK 1200.' BY THEN I WAS 1 MI FROM THE TCA. I CONTACTED STL APCH, AND BY THE TIME WE GOT SQUARED AWAY, I WAS INFORMED THAT I WAS INSIDE THE TCA BY 2 MI. (MY DME SHOWED ME ON THE EDGE OUTSIDE.) IN MY OPINION, AIR SAFETY WOULD BE GREATLY IMPROVED IF FLT FOLLOWING WOULD BE AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES AND TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY ATC. IT WOULD CERTAINLY BE MORE PRODUCTIVE THAN PLAYING HIGHWAY PATROL OF THE SKY. THERE WAS NO OTHER TFC ON THE FREQ AT THE TIME. I MIGHT ADD THAT 80% OF THE TIME I GET EXCELLENT SVC RE: FLT FOLLOWING, 10% IS OK, BUT 10% IT IS INDIFFERENT OR OUTRIGHT HOSTILE.

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.