AN ALLEGED GOV OFFICIAL TFR INCURSION BY A PA28 PLT 6 NM NW OF MYF; CA.

Narrative

I DEPARTED SANTA CATALINA'S AVALON ARPT. THE DEP WAS WBOUND TO THE SHORELINE OF THE ISLAND; I MADE A L TURN TO OVERFLY THE ISLAND'S CITY OF AVALON ON THE FAR S SIDE OF THE ISLAND. OVER THE CITY; I TRACKED THE 100 DEG RADIAL OF THE SXC VOR. AT 30 DME FROM THE SXC VOR; I MADE A RADIO CALL TO SOCAL APCH ON 127.4 TO ASK FOR AN IFR CLRNC TO FLY THE ILS AT MYF ARPT. THE CTLR CAME BACK SAYING I WAS IN VIOLATION OF THE TFR WHICH WAS A 30 NM RADIUS FROM SLI VOR. THEY HAD ME CALL AFTER LNDG AT MYF. I SPOKE TO 1-800-WXBRIEF ON AUG/FRI/03 AFTER XA00 PST TO GET THE TFR INFO. I MADE SURE MY RTE OF FLT WOULD TAKE ME OUTSIDE THE VEIL OF THE TFR BEFORE DEP. THE WOMAN I SPOKE WITH SAID; 'IT SOUNDS LIKE I MAY NOT HAVE BEEN WITHIN THE 30 MI OF SLI VOR; BUT WOULD HAVE TO CHK THE RADAR RPTS TO BE SURE.' THEY TOLD ME I CAN CALL BACK. I DO NOT BELIEVE I WAS IN VIOLATION OF THE TFR. THE ENTIRE FLT WAS AT OR BELOW 3500 FT INDICATED ALT. I SHOULD HAVE FILED IFR BEFORE TKOF TO MAKE DOUBLE SURE I WOULD NOT HAVE A PROB WITH THE TFR. I WAS SURE OF MY PREFLT PLANNING AND HAD CONFIDENCE I WOULD NOT VIOLATE THE TFR. ANOTHER BACK UP WOULD HAVE BEEN TO SET THE DME TO SLI AND FLY A DME ARC OF 33-35 NM FROM THE TFR SELECTED VOR.