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Atx pilot becomes disoriented on a short VMC flight. Enroute WX precludes visual use of landmarks and any navaids. Receives flight assist from FSS and experienced pilot. Pilot reporter suggests installation of NDB at non tower airport for navigation assist.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 125628 |
| Time | |
| Date | 198910 |
| Day | Sat |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : 9z1 |
| State Reference | AK |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 1000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Mixed |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zan |
| Operator | common carrier : air taxi |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear |
| Flight Phase | cruise other cruise other cruise other |
| Route In Use | approach : visual |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air taxi |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 1150 |
| ASRS Report | 125628 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | other personnel other |
| Qualification | other |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc other anomaly other other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa other other : unspecified |
| Resolutory Action | controller : provided flight assist flight crew : became reoriented other |
| Consequence | other Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
| Situations | |
| Navigational Aid | Unspecified |
Narrative:
WX conditions: rain/rain shower, occ fog, high winds, var ceiling 1000-4000', visibility 3-15 mi. Pilot en route from wrangell to klawock, prince of wales. Became disoriented after passing known checkpoints. WX conditions caused normally identifiable geographic features to appear different, and difficult to recognize, thus becoming confused and disorientated. After several attempts to connect with one of the local navaids (cape decision NDB (318) level island VOR 116.5, ann VOR 117.1, nichols 266, and guard island ndg 324). I contacted sunny hay rco 120.9, asked ktn FSS if D.F. Steer equipment was available. Since at this time a driver had been waiting for 20 mins past my ETD in klawock. Ktn advised they did not have D.F. In the craig/klawock area. It was relayed that I was in VFR conditions with sufficient fuel to remain airborne for 2 1/2 hours. After describing a camp to ktn FSS and relaying the information to ketchikan air service's pilot, it was determined that I was over winter harbor in the sea otter sound area. With this information I was able to steer for klawock airport. I have subsequently reviewed the area and took note of the error in pilotage. An NDB is highly recommended for the craig/klawock area.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ATX PLT BECOMES DISORIENTED ON A SHORT VMC FLT. ENROUTE WX PRECLUDES VISUAL USE OF LANDMARKS AND ANY NAVAIDS. RECEIVES FLT ASSIST FROM FSS AND EXPERIENCED PLT. PLT REPORTER SUGGESTS INSTALLATION OF NDB AT NON TWR ARPT FOR NAVIGATION ASSIST.
Narrative: WX CONDITIONS: RAIN/RAIN SHOWER, OCC FOG, HIGH WINDS, VAR CEILING 1000-4000', VIS 3-15 MI. PLT ENRTE FROM WRANGELL TO KLAWOCK, PRINCE OF WALES. BECAME DISORIENTED AFTER PASSING KNOWN CHECKPOINTS. WX CONDITIONS CAUSED NORMALLY IDENTIFIABLE GEOGRAPHIC FEATURES TO APPEAR DIFFERENT, AND DIFFICULT TO RECOGNIZE, THUS BECOMING CONFUSED AND DISORIENTATED. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CONNECT WITH ONE OF THE LOCAL NAVAIDS (CAPE DECISION NDB (318) LEVEL ISLAND VOR 116.5, ANN VOR 117.1, NICHOLS 266, AND GUARD ISLAND NDG 324). I CONTACTED SUNNY HAY RCO 120.9, ASKED KTN FSS IF D.F. STEER EQUIPMENT WAS AVAILABLE. SINCE AT THIS TIME A DRIVER HAD BEEN WAITING FOR 20 MINS PAST MY ETD IN KLAWOCK. KTN ADVISED THEY DID NOT HAVE D.F. IN THE CRAIG/KLAWOCK AREA. IT WAS RELAYED THAT I WAS IN VFR CONDITIONS WITH SUFFICIENT FUEL TO REMAIN AIRBORNE FOR 2 1/2 HRS. AFTER DESCRIBING A CAMP TO KTN FSS AND RELAYING THE INFO TO KETCHIKAN AIR SERVICE'S PLT, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT I WAS OVER WINTER HARBOR IN THE SEA OTTER SOUND AREA. WITH THIS INFO I WAS ABLE TO STEER FOR KLAWOCK ARPT. I HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY REVIEWED THE AREA AND TOOK NOTE OF THE ERROR IN PILOTAGE. AN NDB IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR THE CRAIG/KLAWOCK AREA.
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.