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A C150 pilot reports completing a currency check with his flight club after 6 months away from flying. After the instructor is dropped off; the flight continues with several more touch and goes. The pilot then makes a flight to bfi. During the visual approach the reporter is distracted by traffic for the parallel runway and the aircraft is allowed to get very close to terrain.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1246291 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201503 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | BFI.Airport |
| State Reference | WA |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Cessna 150 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Landing |
| Route In Use | None |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Single Pilot Pilot Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Private |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 3.0 Flight Crew Total 371 Flight Crew Type 78.4 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT |
Narrative:
Last week; I finished a currency check with my flight club after 6 months away; and I wanted to enjoy a solo flight. I performed some pattern work and landings at my home airport; then decided to fly south to the class D airport adjacent to the city I live near. This airport is situated in a river valley; and is hemmed in by large hills with several residential neighborhoods. It is also just underneath the approach path of the class B airport just 5 miles away. I performed one full stop landing at this airport. On the downwind leg and cleared to land; I pulled power back; entered my first 10 degrees of flaps and began my descent. Turning onto the base leg; I noticed I was descending a little steeper than I was comfortable with; so I added some power. The tower called me to point out traffic inbound to land on the parallel runway. I started to fixate between my runway; and the parallel landing traffic and allowed my altitude to deteriorate further. I suddenly saw trees and a couple houses close below me; but before I could add power; the hill dropped away to the valley floor. Even after this; I was still above the visual glideslope of my runway; so I calmed myself down enough to land; then taxi back for departure. The tower never pointed out any problems. There are a couple flight schools on the field; so maybe this is not an unusual occurrence.normally; I have no problem flying into this airport. However; I should have respected that my skills would become rusty after 6 months away. I fixated far too long on the other traffic as well as my runway and allowed my scan to deteriorate to the point that I did not notice my altitude. I should have waited a little while longer to turn base where the hill dips lower; or perhaps not began my descent until I was established on the base leg. Even though the tower did not call me out; and I still ended up above the glideslope; I should have been more careful and perhaps waited until I had regained enough proficiency before returning to this airport.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A C150 pilot reports completing a currency check with his flight club after 6 months away from flying. After the instructor is dropped off; the flight continues with several more touch and goes. The pilot then makes a flight to BFI. During the visual approach the reporter is distracted by traffic for the parallel runway and the aircraft is allowed to get very close to terrain.
Narrative: Last week; I finished a currency check with my flight club after 6 months away; and I wanted to enjoy a solo flight. I performed some pattern work and landings at my home airport; then decided to fly south to the Class D airport adjacent to the city I live near. This airport is situated in a river valley; and is hemmed in by large hills with several residential neighborhoods. It is also just underneath the approach path of the Class B airport just 5 miles away. I performed one full stop landing at this airport. On the downwind leg and cleared to land; I pulled power back; entered my first 10 degrees of flaps and began my descent. Turning onto the base leg; I noticed I was descending a little steeper than I was comfortable with; so I added some power. The tower called me to point out traffic inbound to land on the parallel runway. I started to fixate between my runway; and the parallel landing traffic and allowed my altitude to deteriorate further. I suddenly saw trees and a couple houses close below me; but before I could add power; the hill dropped away to the valley floor. Even after this; I was still above the visual glideslope of my runway; so I calmed myself down enough to land; then taxi back for departure. The tower never pointed out any problems. There are a couple flight schools on the field; so maybe this is not an unusual occurrence.Normally; I have no problem flying into this airport. However; I should have respected that my skills would become rusty after 6 months away. I fixated far too long on the other traffic as well as my runway and allowed my scan to deteriorate to the point that I did not notice my altitude. I should have waited a little while longer to turn base where the hill dips lower; or perhaps not began my descent until I was established on the base leg. Even though the tower did not call me out; and I still ended up above the glideslope; I should have been more careful and perhaps waited until I had regained enough proficiency before returning to this airport.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.