C340 LNDG PHX IS FRUSTRATED WITH ATC AND INADVERTENTLY MAY HAVE ENTERED CLASS D AIRSPACE.

Date: 2003-09 · Aircraft: Cessna 340/340A

Anomalies: airspace-violation-all-types|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-clearance|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-far|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy

Synopsis

C340 LNDG PHX IS FRUSTRATED WITH ATC AND INADVERTENTLY MAY HAVE ENTERED CLASS D AIRSPACE.

Narrative

RECEIVED LCL AREA BRIEFING BY COMPUTER. WX VFR; UNLIMITED VISIBILITY AND NO NOTAMS/TFR'S THAT WOULD PREVENT COMPLETION OF MY LCL VFR FERRY FLT. DEPARTED SDL CLASS D SBOUND FOR A SCHEDULED MAINT APPOINTMENT; REQUESTED FREQ CHANGE FROM TWR WHILE STILL IN CLASS D TO OBTAIN PHX ATIS. CONTINUED S AND CLBED TO 2700 FT MSL CLR OF CLASS D. CONTACTED APCH CTL AND REQUESTED CLASS B CLRNC LNDG PHX. ATC ISSUED SQUAWK CODE; BUT DID NOT ISSUE CLRNC. I WAS UNDERNEATH CLASS B AT 2700 FT MSL. ATC IDENTED MY ACFT AND SUGGESTED I FLY ON A GENERAL HDG OF NW WITHOUT A CLASS B CLRNC. THIS WAS CONFUSING BECAUSE LOOKING AT MY TERMINAL MAP; A NW HDG APPEARED TO INTENTIONALLY PUT ME BACK INTO CLASS D AIRSPACE WITHOUT A CLRNC; SO I ELECTED TO FLY ENE TO REMAIN CLR OF CLASS B AND CLASS D AIRSPACE. ATC QUESTIONED MY HDG OF ENE; AND I RELAYED MY CONCERN ABOUT CLASS D AIRSPACE IF I HEADED NW. ATC THEN ISSUED A CLRNC TO 5000 FT MSL ON A GENERAL HDG OF NW. I BEGAN MY CLB AND TURN; SAW ON THE MAP I NEEDED TO BE ABOVE 4000 FT MSL TO STAY CLR OF CLASS D AIRSPACE IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS RIGHT NEXT TO CLASS D AS I CONTINUED MY CLB THROUGH 4000 FT MSL TO MY ASSIGNED ALT OF 5000 FT MSL. I FEEL THERE MAY BE A POSSIBILITY OF AN UNINTENTIONAL AIRSPACE VIOLATION INTO CLASS D. I CONTINUED MY CLB TO 5000 FT MSL AND ATC HAD ME HOLD A GENERAL POS NW OF SDL FOR ABOUT 15 MINS BEFORE SEQUENCING ME INTO THE TFC FLOW FOR PHX. THE FLT WS COMPLETED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. MY FIRST CONTACT WITH THE APCH CTLR; I GOT THE IMPRESSION OF A CONFRONTATIONAL ALT CULMINATING IN WHAT I FELT MIGHT BE A DELIBERATE ATTEMPT TO PUT ME IN AN AIRSPACE VIOLATION. WHETHER MY PERCEPTION IS CORRECT OR NOT; THE RESULT WAS I WAS DISTR BY THIS PERCEIVED ATTITUDE. TO ME; THE CTLR SEEMED VERY IMPATIENT WITH MY REQUEST TO LAND AT PHX AT A BUSY TIME OF THE MORNING. I ALSO HAD THE PERCEPTION HE WAS GOING TO MAKE ME WAIT FOR SEQUENCING ON PURPOSE. AGAIN; RIGHT OR WRONG; THIS WAS MY PERCEPTION AND INTERACTION WITH ME AS A PLT. BECAUSE OF THIS; I DID MAKE AN EXTRA EFFORT TO BE CAREFUL OF MY WORDING AND TONE OF VOICE WITH THE CTLR.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.