Taking off with wrong transponder

[goaliemn]

Sunday, I went up for a flight. Shortly after takeoff, tower asked me to verify I was squaking 1200. before I could check they ordered me to squak 1200. The person that used it before me had an IFR code in. As part of my training, I had always been told to put it back to 1200 before leaving the plane, so I guess I've gotten out of the habit of checking before flight.

Does an accidental mis-squak constitute a rule violation? It was caught before I was 100' off the ground.

Yes, I now will check the transponder before every flight.

 

[vclean]

Save the FAA and taxpayers the money to send you the certified letter of the violation, and surrender your certificate now.

Seriously, I wouldn't worry, it happens more often than you think.

 

[goaliemn]

Save the FAA and taxpayers the money to send you the certified letter of the violation, and surrender your certificate now.

Seriously, I wouldn't worry, it happens more often than you think.

I figured it had to happen quite a bit. Wasn't sure if it was worth a NASA form or not.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

I seriously wouldn't sweat that one goalie!!

happens now and again without problem...its not right....but its like the uh....."recycle" you transponder thing b/c they cant read your Mode C...

 

[goaliemn]

I seriously wouldn't sweat that one goalie!!

happens now and again without problem...its not right....but its like the uh....."recycle" you transponder thing b/c they cant read your Mode C...

True.. never did say it was set wrong over the air.. just recycled it.. yeah.. thats the ticket..

 

[Vector4fun]

Goalie,

Don't sweat it. The only problem with squawking an incorrect or old code is that it's likely been assigned to another flight plan, so there's a good chance some ATC radar is going to see it, assume you're the other flight, auto-aquire, and activate that flight plan. That can be a real headache for ATC if it's busy, screws with the FP processing.

There are much worse "sins", like having Mode C that's 300'-30,000' off. Saw a 1200 target doing 80 kts at FL290 the other day, wonder what that does to TCAS?

 

[AxisVDP]

I seriously wouldn't sweat that one goalie!!

happens now and again without problem...its not right....but its like the uh....."recycle" you transponder thing b/c they cant read your Mode C...

Sh!t... My mode C actually wasn't working until I turned the transponder off then on again. No wonder approach spoke to me in an aggrevated tone.

 

[pilotman2105]

ASRS report = "Get out of Jail Free Card"

I would have sent one in. That way you do not have to worry about it. Just my $0.02.

Anyway, ATC may have been a little pissed, but if you haven't heard anything more about it now, I would not worry about it too much.

 

[Ralgha]

ATC is your friend. Generally you won't get violated by ATC unless it's one of the few circumstances where they will lose their job if they don't violate you. Incorrect transponder code is not one of those situations.

 

[Pilot124]

All of the above answers are correct. Everybody has done once or twice, Hell I did it last Sat on accident. I didn't even think twice about it. I had barley got off the ground when ATC told me to recycle. Although if I was in Chicago airspace I might just get one of those "get out of jail free card".

 

[AAsRedHeadedbro]

Do not waste your time on a ASRS report! What you did was an absolute non event. It happens all the time, believe me. I can't tell you how many airliners take off each day from the country's major airline airports (ORD for example) and are told by departure to squak the correct code. It happens to me probably at least 2 to 3 times a year. You say something like "oops, sorry", put in the correct code and you're done with it. Usually within about 15 seconds Departure control will tell you "Radar Contact". That's it.

 

[AxisVDP]

Also, ATC guys are usually pretty layed back so I hear, and they are at least in my area (Nashville). I seriously doubt they would come after you with a noose.

 

[pilotman2105]

I guess that the ASRS report would be relative. If ATC sounds like he doesn't care about it, then I wouldn't worry. However, if he's coming back saying "why didn't you..." and "Give us a call when you land," then file one. It doesn't cost more than 30 min of your time and a stamp. It can save a good amount of headache and a whole lot more time later down the road.

 

[Flyin Tony]

Well last night I went flying down to KFUL-KSNA-KRAL-KONT from KAPV in my pops Comanche. And I landed in FUL and didnt set my trans back to 1200 when I landed. Took off and the ATC guy told me to swk 1200 so I did. Not a Problem. If anyone flys in the LA area you can tell how busy thos guys get and SOCAL had nothing to say about it . Im not worried.

 

[Lead Sled]

You don't need to get your panties in a wad over this. It falls into the same category as missing a handoff or dialing in the wrong frequency. In otherwords, it happens. Save the NASA forms for the "meaningful" screwups.

 

[Jedi_Cheese]

Been there, done that, don't sweat it. Those TX's are very tricky you know! They seem to have their own mind on what to squawk (or turn on/off)...

Always check the TX code before you takeoff. You never know what the guy before you was doing and he may have shown his CFI that he knows what 7500 means.